A Siren for the Bear (Sarkozy Brothers Book 1) (14 page)

"That's it?" he asked softly, allowing the low rumble in his chest to release, his bear raising his head.

Her eyes widened at the sound, but all she said was, "I realized what it meant."

"Which is?"

He knew he was being insufferable, but he couldn't help it. He was enjoying the discomfort his proximity raised in her far too much.

"Big bear, or something close to it."

She sounded reluctant to speak but he knew what was going on. Her body was reacting to his presence, her heart racing so fast he could hear it thudding away. Then she lifted her chin.

"What was it you wanted?"

She flushed as she realized her words could be misinterpreted.

"You know what I want."

Marek kept the smile off his face. She was melting for him. Maybe he had a chance with her. He just had to show her how much she needed him.

He shifted closer, his mouth lowering so close to hers it was almost touching. "It's you I want."

His breath caressed her mouth and her skin, and she shivered in response.

"Do you want me?" he asked, watching her eyes as they flickered to his lips. She shook her head. "No." Her breath was sweet as he inhaled the scent of her.

"Liar." He slipped a hand down to her knee, to the hem of the leather skirt. She shivered, and his hand rose a few inches up her thigh.

His other hand curled behind her head, tipping her face up to him. He reveled in the quickening of her breath, the short, sharp bursts music to his ears.

His hand moved higher up and she shuddered, moving her hips closer to him.

When he kissed her she gasped, kissing him back so desperately it almost brought tears to his eyes. She was so perfect.

And he didn't plan on letting her go.

Applause rose in the distance and Carson cleared her throat, reality intruding on their interlude. Pity, he thought. He would have preferred not to stop.

At last he moved away, smiling as she blushed and righted her clothes.

She smelled different, slightly muskier. A change he hadn't noticed in the desperation to have her.

"Are you ok?"

She nodded, blushing deep red. "I'm fine."

It wasn't what he meant but he let it slide. She was probably sick. He never got the flu and he had to remind himself that she was human, after all. Something he'd have to get used to.

When she straightened, her eyes clouding with doubt, he pulled her close. "I'm not going to let you go."

She stiffened.

"Not unless you truly don't want to." He tipped her chin up, seeing tears sparkling on her lashes. "Tell me you don't want me, and I'll leave and never bother you again."

She stared at his face, uncertainty flickering in her gaze. A good sign, he thought. She hadn't kicked him in the balls and fled for her life.

"I want us," he whispered, his voice husky. "You and me, together. But only if you want it too. I won't force you. Life with me... It won't be easy. There is danger in being with me. I can't lie about that."

He cleared his throat, determined to be open and honest about everything.

"I only took this long to come here because I've been in bed, recovering."

"Recovering?" She leaned forward, her eyes concerned, her face pale. "Recovering from what?"

"When I ran out into the forest that night, I went up to the ridge above the house. They must have been lying in wait, watching the property. This time they were out to kill. The poison was strong, and even though I'd pulled the dart free fairly quickly, enough had seeped into my body to knock me on my back for two weeks."

Her gasp was soft and she was shaking her head. "I thought I heard something as the car was leaving the property."

"What did you hear?"

"A bear, a very angry bear."

He grinned. "Yeah. That was me."

She raised her hand, then pulled it back. Marek could tell she was shocked, but that she was trying to maintain her cool.

"I'll always try and keep you safe."

"And who will keep you safe?" she snapped, as if she was angry that he didn't have a team of bodyguards with him.

"We have men on it."

She gave a single nod and Marek smiled, enjoying the fact that she looked furious. He took it to mean she was furious that someone had made an attempt on his life.

"What are you doing to find them?" she asked, her tone cold.

"We have a team on it. Don't worry about it."

"Don't worry about it?" she asked, her voice rising. "You tell me that someone tried to kill you, sending you to bed for two weeks, and you expect me to believe you have a team on it? Some team." She sounded disgusted and he adored her for it.

He put his arms around her.

"It's going to be fine. We're safe, Nyx. Believe me. You and me, we're going to be good together." He leaned away and tipped her face up with a finger beneath her chin. "And if by some miracle there are children, then that will be an entirely different ballgame. A human mother to bear babies... It's not easy. I know that well enough."

"How do you know?" she asked.

He looked down as she bit her lip, deciding that bare honesty was the best way to go. Even if it drove her away. "My grandmother. She was human."

"Was?"

"Yeah. She's been gone a few years now. The old man took it hard." He laughed softly. "We tend to mate for life."

She sniffed and straightened. Maybe all this talk of life and babies was getting to her. She needed space and time, but Marek wasn't sure he wanted her to have it. What if she turned him down, this time forever? He wasn't sure if he could deal with that.

But, staring at her pale, pink-sheened face, he knew he'd never want her with him against her will. She was too feisty, too passionate for that, and he wouldn't use guilt or empathy to make her stay.

He stepped back.

She cleared her throat, fiddling with her hair, pushing it away from her face.

She turned to the mirror and unzipped a cosmetic bag. "I have another small set. I can talk to you later."

Marek watch her reflection in the mirror. "You'll have to be prepared for marriage to a shifter." His expression was dark. He didn't want to sugarcoat it any. Especially not when the decision was a huge one for both of them.

She applied lipstick and powdered her nose. Then she faced him. "I can't talk now. I need time to think."

Marek's throat tightened.

Time to think always meant one thing.

She was going to say no.

She was going to break him.

H
E
WATCHED
AS
SHE
LEFT
the ridiculous dressing room, and he stepped forward to follow. He was heading into the narrow hall when his phone rang in his pocket and he answered.

Later, he wished he'd never done so.

Lukas' voice was on the other end of the line, emotionless with shock as he detailed the attack. Someone was crying in the background.

"They've got Marko."

As soon as he'd gotten all the details from Lukas, Marek gave instructions for everyone to go to ground. Until they had a good strategy in place for protecting their people, he couldn't take any risks.

He closed the phone and slid it into his pocket.

Carson began to sing, her voice crooning its siren song. And in that moment, he knew he'd never do anything to endanger her.

Even if it meant living without her.

L
EAVING
THE
DRESSING
ROOM
AND
leaving Marek behind without giving him an answer almost killed her. Her knees shook as she forced herself to walk, spine straight, head up.

She didn't think she could do it.

Sure, they had passion going for them. They'd almost christened the damn dressing room for god's sake. She couldn't help the smile that grew on her face. That was how it was with Marek, always.

She arrived at the stage and climbed up, taking the mike with a blush on her cheeks. She remembered the feel of icy rain on her naked skin, the way she'd cried out at his touch, the way his rain-drenched body had slid against hers.

She shook her head and focused on the music.

And began to sing.

The song was totally wrong for her to be singing right then.

She tried not to think about the words as she watched Marek enter the room and pause to watch her.

Her heart swelled and emotion filled her. She blinked away the tears.

She'd been so stupid, denying him. Lying to herself. Shifter or not, she couldn't say no to him, not when she'd given him her heart the moment he'd first looked at her.

She'd wasted so much time.

His eyes met hers and she smiled at him, wishing she wasn't in the middle of a song so she could yell the truth out to him.

She loved him.

Blindingly, deeply, irrevocably.

The song peaked and the notes slowed, the end coming not soon enough.

The song over, she skipped down the stairs searching for him. But he wasn't there. She peered over the throng, standing on her toes to scan the crowd, and caught sight of him at the exit door, his wide shoulders disappearing outside.

Carson came to a stop so suddenly that someone bumped right into her. He'd left.

She was barely aware as her feet propelled her to the door. She flung it open in time to see the car speeding away, its taillights disappearing into the darkness.

What had she seen in his eyes? Hesitation? Fear?

Why would he be afraid now, after he'd managed to convince her that they belonged with each other, that his species wasn't an insurmountable obstacle.

What could possibly have happened that he'd leave right when she was about to agree to be with him?

And then she remembered his words.

There is danger in being with me.

Her fingers curled into fists.

How dare he run out on her like that? What the hell was he thinking? That leaving her would protect her from the people that were after him? He should know that she didn't care about any of that as long as she could be with him.

Then she stiffened.

How would he know if she didn't tell him?