She swallowed and continued. “I shouldn't have reacted like that the other night. I didn't think how shitty it must have made you feel. I wasn't thinking at all. I should be thanking you.” She squirmed a little in her seat from the heat of his stare. Then she cleared her throat and said, “Thank you, for saving my life.”
When he didn't respond she inched forward, observing how still he was, apart from his eyes that followed her every move. “I mean it. Seriously. Thank you. I wouldn't be here if you hadn't stopped him. It was actually the reason I came to see you today. I didn't want you to think I'd overlooked that.”
She watched as he clasped his hands in front of him; his back curved as he leaned in towards her. Her muscles tensed as she tried to stay still when his face was a touch away from her. Her fingers tingled as she imagined them stroking across his stubble.
“You have nothing to apologize for. You had every right to be terrified. I know you didn't run away because of me.” His gaze landed on her hand and she clenched it shut. He then glanced up at her face. “We'll talk about that another time.”
She bobbed her head at a quick pace. She did not want to talk about her claw at that moment.
He stood and circled the room, stopping when he came to face her. “What happened with Fraya anyway?” he asked.
She shrugged, wincing at the pain it inflicted in her spine and shoulders. “I don't really know. She had a moment alone with me, and I guess she made the most of it. She said some things, riled me up and I reacted.”
“She was the one you were talking about when we spoke at the site that day. It was her you wanted protecting from,” he said in a stiff voice.
Jaz observed him, unsure of what to say. In the end she just nodded, fiddling with the pens in the metallic holder on the desk.
“Why didn't you just tell me?”
She scrunched up her nose as she thought about her answer. “I know it sounds stupid after what I've just done... but...”
“But?”
She sighed, leaving the pens alone and placing her hands in front of her. “I don't want Fraya to be punished or whatever because of me... again.”
Driver raised his thick, black brows, folding his arms. “If Fraya gets banished or punished, or killed, it will be her fault, and her fault alone. You shouldn't have to suffer for her. She has to be punished for her own misdeeds, the same as anybody else.”
“If I'd said yes, would you have killed her?”
When he didn't answer and she saw the solid wall in his stare, she felt light-headed. Her gaze faltered and her stomach lurched.
“I'm glad your ankle is better,” he commented.
She looked down at her feet, her hands pressed together between her thighs. “Thanks.”
“I want to apologize also for what happened.” He paused as she watched him. “Rufus, the Were who attacked you, has been severely warned. He's never been very good at controlling himself in Beast form, or in human form for that matter,” he added with a roll of his eyes. “His lack of control made him dare challenge me to a fight today. After everything that happened, how could I refuse?” He smiled darkly.
“Rufus? Wait, he's the same guy you were beating the crap out of just now?” She thumbed towards the window.
“The very same.” She saw his lips pinch as if to contain a smile.
“Was that... like...a... punishment?” she mumbled.
“A punishment?”
She nodded.
“No. Well, maybe a little. Unofficially. But I don't fight anyone who doesn't or can't fight back. That would be cruelty, and there's very little a despise more.”
Jaz didn't allow him to see how much she liked him for saying that. His words blew away her previous uneasiness of him.
“He smelt your blood and it drove him berserk.”
Jaz bobbed her head remembering. “I cut my knee falling.”
“I know.” He watched her for a few seconds before smiling his minuscule smile. “You left a good mark on him.”
Jaz felt her jaw click as she clamped her teeth together.
Nik's brow furrowed, and then softened as if an iron had slid over it. “What scares you the most? Me? All of us?... Or yourself?”
Jaz felt her eyes burning and fixed them on the desk. Her fingers twitched in her lap. She looked down at them as if they had a decent response for her.
A warm hand gently covered her fidgety hands, stopping her thoughts dead. Rather than flinch or shy away she allowed it to remain there, staring at it. His hand calmed and soothed her. He knelt down beside her but it took her some time before she had the courage to look up.
“What are you afraid of?”
She shook her head. She couldn't answer that. Not when the words would only offend and not make sense to anyone who wasn't her. “I can't do this, Nik.”
He gripped her hand. “Just promise me one thing?”
She watched him with cautious eyes.
“Don't go out after dark again. I can't promise I'll be there next time.”
She smiled weakly.
“Though after today I'm not sure you need my help.”
She grinned and then stopped, nursing the side of her aching face with her palm. “Beginner's luck,” she mumbled.
When his hand reached out and stroked her face she dropped her arm to her side. She didn't dare move, or breath. Her gaze landed on his lips. Her mouth parted open as she imagined those lips against hers.
Just then, there was a loud, heavy knock on the door and Jaz inhaled sharply. Driver slowly removed his hand from her face and stood up, sidestepping to the other side of the desk. “Come in,” he called.
A middle-aged man with greying sideburns and a handsome, rugged face poked half his body round the door. “I'm not disturbing you?”
Jaz saw him glance her way with curiosity.
“No, come in, Kerk. “
Jaz pushed herself up off the swivel office chair, standing up stiffly. “I should go,” she said.