“Please don't tell me that death is my only option.” I groaned, overcome with the urge to hit something. “That's not what I came to hear.”
“Death is rarely the only option. However, if you think you've got power now, just wait until then.” He shifted, crossing one leg over the other. There was a spark of excitement in his ebony orbs. “I can help you. I can show you what you are capable of.”
“And control?” I asked, needing to pinpoint my main concern. “Can you show me how to control it?”
He smiled at me like I was a needy child. “Of course.”
I got the feeling that he was enjoying this far more than I'd hoped he would. “That's not going to come without a price, is it?” If his terms were completely outrageous, I would have no choice but to walk away.
“You're a clever lady, Alexa. I'm sure we can strike some kind of bargain.” Harley rose to his feet, crossing the space between us slowly, as if trying not to frighten a spooked animal.
I watched him come towards me, and the butterflies in my stomach set to flight. The power coiled inside my core reacted to my fear, growing to fill me with a warm glow that quickly grew hot. I struggled against the urge to tap it.
“Just tell me what you want, Harley. I don't have a lot of room to negotiate. Make it reasonable.”
Just as I was about to take a step back, toward the door, he came to a stop. “Why are you so skittish? You're a predator for crying out loud.”
I was surprised by his scolding tone. I'd have thought that Harley would prefer me to act like prey, unless it was testing his control. He was right though. I detested being treated like prey. I had no reason to be afraid of him. I think more than anything, I feared what he would want from me. There had been a time when he'd begged Arys for me, claiming that I was something that Arys owed him. My spine crawled with what felt like the slither of a snake. I could still hear his desperate plea ringing in my ears.
“Maybe I should just go.” Ignoring the ready energy inside me, I followed the instinct of my wolf and spun on my heel.
“Wait!” His hand shot out before I'd taken a full step, grasping my forearm. The urge to lash out at him with a fiery blast was almost too much. Whirling to face him, I was shocked to see the satisfied smirk that he wore. “Now that's more like it. Never forget about the wolf, my dear. It is what gives you the edge no vampire will ever have.”
“What the hell do you want?” I jerked my arm from his grip, and he let go. I was seething, which was exactly what he wanted. “Tell me what you want, or just forget that I ever came.”
His smile vanished immediately. With a deadly serious expression, he said, “You know what I want. Let's not play coy. I want you. In whatever way I can have you.”
Harley's eyes fell to my lips and curling his fingers ever so slightly, he pulled the angry energy I was giving off into him. “I knew you'd be back.”
The psychic touch felt physical, as if he was running his fingertips along my skin.
We were nowhere near touching, yet I could feel him all over me when I focused, all around, inviting me to play. Everything but my common sense wanted to respond in full.
Yeah, this was exactly why I needed control, but was it possible to find it with someone like him?
His cryptic words set me on edge. I didn't like that he was so certain I would come back. What was he really expecting from me? When I didn't respond or walk away, he boldly stepped closer. The power emanating from him felt divine.
Memories that belonged to Arys ran through my mind, a blurry jumble of images I'd obtained the first time our power joined. Because of them, I already knew what it would feel like to touch Harley the way I suddenly wanted to. I also knew that this was a test of my own strength, one I had to pass.
“Whatever way you can have me … what is that really supposed to mean?” I curled my hands into fists so that my lengthening claws dug into my flesh. The sheer force it took to hold back the power seeking to control my actions was tearing me apart. My four fangs filled my mouth, and I growled. This was too much.
Harley's eyes widened, a gleam in their depths. “Don't you just want to give in sometimes? To see what it's like to stop fighting it?”
“No,” I snarled the one word, backing away until my back hit the doorframe.
“Alright.” He cocked his head to the side, watching me with hawk-like intensity.