Whispers in the Dark - Maya Banks [96]
She may have been some damn lab experiment, but she was a human being with feelings. If the bastards who’d created her thought she was expendable, that she was only destined to be some lab rat they poked and prodded on a regular basis, they could all fuck themselves and go straight to hell. She would never go back to that.
“Shea.”
Donovan’s soft address broke through her dark thoughts. Some of the rage abated and she blinked to bring him into focus. He was standing in front of her, a look of concern on his face.
“I want you to meet the team that will be responsible for your safety.”
Her brows drew together and the panic was suddenly back, knotting her throat until she had difficulty breathing.
“What do you mean?” she croaked. “What about…”
She glanced over to where Nathan stood with his brothers and bit her lip, determined not to blurt out what she’d been about to ask.
She returned her gaze to Donovan and the group assembled closely around him. The team leader stood closest to Donovan and stared coolly at her, his eyes like blue ice. His hair was blond—muddy blond with lighter streaks through the short-cropped strands. It was easy to tell he was the authority figure. He commanded respect and it was obvious he got it from every member of his team.
“This is Steele.”
“Miss Peterson,” Steele said in acknowledgment.
“Behind him are Cole, P.J., Dolphin. To his left are Baker and Renshaw.”
Shea tried to smile but she couldn’t contain her dismay.
Across the room, Nathan turned to look at her and he frowned. Their gazes connected and then she felt him explode into her mind, so different than when she connected with him.
His presence was forceful. Indomitable. Overwhelming her and yet filling her with his very essence.
What’s wrong? It was a quick, impatient demand. She felt his resolve to fix whatever it was upsetting her.
For a moment she couldn’t even formulate her thoughts. It was ridiculous. She was being ridiculous. She should be on her knees giving thanks, but she didn’t want this team to protect her. She wanted Nathan. She didn’t want to be separated from him. Not even for her safety.
“Jesus.”
She heard Nathan across the room. He stalked over, looking angrily at Donovan even as he pulled her into his arms. For a long moment he simply hugged her to him and then he pulled her away, grasped her shoulders and stared hard into her eyes as if willing her to not only hear him but to feel him as well.
“I’m not turning you over to Steele and his team. I’m going to be with you every minute of every day. Do you understand that? Yes, Steele’s team is assigned to your protection. We need them. But it doesn’t mean they’re going to take you away somewhere and that I won’t be with you. Where you go, I go.”
Relief made her weak, and worse, her eyelids burned with tears.
“Well, Christ,” Donovan muttered. “That wasn’t what I meant for you to think, Shea. I’m sorry.”
She shook her head and forced herself to get it together. “I was being stupid. I’m the one who’s sorry. I should be grateful. I just panicked for a moment.”
Nathan pulled her to him and silenced her with a long, deep kiss. It amazed her that he gave so little thought to where they were or who observed. He never seemed to care.
She shivered as his tongue swept over hers, rough and yet so gentle and caring. He was a fascinating mix of intensity and patience. He was fierce and demanding and yet he always demonstrated such loving tenderness with her.
He loved her.
She reminded herself of that fact. He’d given her the words. Very pissed off words but all the more meaningful for the frustrated way he’d expressed the emotions he felt toward her. It seemed to make him crazy that he couldn’t make everything perfect, that there were so many obstacles confronting them, and yet he refused to let anything deter him.
“This is better than a romance novel,” P.J. said with a wistful sigh.
“You read that stuff?” Cole demanded.