J.R. Ward the Black Dagger Brotherhood Novels 1-4 - J. R. Ward [472]
“Who’s there?” Phury said hoarsely from the bed.
She cleared her throat. “Bella.”
A ragged sigh rose into the air. “Hi.”
“Hi. How are you feeling?”
“Downright perky, thanks for asking.”
She smiled a little until she came up to him. With her night vision, she saw that he was lying on top of the covers with only a pair of boxers on. He had a gauze pad around his belly and was covered with bruises. And—oh, God—his leg…
“Don’t worry,” he said dryly. “I haven’t had that foot-and-shin combo for over a century. And I really am okay. Just some aesthetic damage.”
“Then why are you wearing that bandage like a sash?”
“It makes my ass look smaller.”
She laughed. She’d expected him to be half-dead, and he did look like he’d been in a hell of a fight. But he wasn’t on death’s door.
“What happened to you?” she asked.
“I got hit in the side.”
“With what?”
“A knife.”
Now, that made her sway. Maybe he only seemed okay.
“I’m fine, Bella. Honestly. In another six hours I’m going to be ready to go back out.” There was a short silence. “What’s doing? Are you all right?”
“Just wanted to see how you are.”
“Well…I’m fine.”
“And, ah…do you need to feed?”
He stiffened, then abruptly reached for the comforter, pulling it over his hips. She wondered why he was acting like he had something to hide…. Oh, right. Whoa.
For the first time she assessed him as a male. He really was beautiful, with all that gorgeous, lush hair and a face that was classically handsome. His body was spectacular, layered with the kind of heavy muscle his twin lacked. But no matter how good he looked, he wasn’t the male for her.
It was a pity, she thought. For both of them. God, how she hated hurting him.
“Do you?” she said. “Need to feed?”
“Are you offering?”
She swallowed. “Yes. I am. So would you…May I give you my vein?”
A dark fragrance permeated the room, so strong it eclipsed the red-smoke aroma: The smell was the thick, rich scent of a male’s hunger. Phury’s hunger for her.
Bella closed her eyes and prayed that if he accepted, she could get through it without crying.
As the sun went down later in the day, Rehvenge stared at the funeral drapes hanging off his sister’s portrait. When his cell phone rang he looked at the caller ID and flipped it open.
“Hello, Bella,” he said softly.
“How did you know—”
“It was you? Untraceable number. Very untraceable, if this phone can’t locate the source.” At least she was still safe at the Brotherhood’s compound, he thought. Wherever that was. “I’m glad you called.”
“I went home last night.”
Rehv’s hand crushed the phone. “Last night? What the hell! I didn’t want you going—”
Sobs came through the phone, great, wretched sobs. The misery stole his words, his anger, his breath.
“Bella? What’s wrong? Bella? Bella!” Oh, Jesus…“Did one of those Brothers hurt you?”
“No.” She took a deep breath. “And don’t yell at me. I can’t bear it. I’m through with you and the yelling. No more.”
He dragged air into his lungs, clamping down on his temper. “What happened?”
“When can I come home?”
“Talk to me.”
Silence stretched out between them. Clearly his sister didn’t trust him anymore. Shit… Could he blame her?
“Bella, please. I’m sorry…. Just talk to me.” When there was no response, he said, “Have I…” He cleared his throat. “Have I so damaged things between us?”
“When can I come home?”
“Bella—”
“Answer the question, brother mine.”
“I don’t know.”
“Then I want to go to the safe house.”
“You can’t. I told you long ago, if there’s trouble, I don’t want you and mahmen in the same place. Now, why do you want to leave there? Only a day ago you didn’t want to be anywhere else.”
There was a long pause. “I went through my needing.”
Rehv felt the air leak out of his lungs and get trapped in his chest cavity. He closed his eyes. “Were you with one of them?”
“Yes.”
Sitting down was a damn good idea right