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so were David and Justin. If anything, David had grown even
more protective. In short, she was ready to scream in her
frustration.
She stared at the passing highway stripes through the
tinted bus window, thankful to be alone for the moment. The
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dark night hours were soothing, calming her. She pulled up
her legs, wrapping her arms around them. Laney had
convinced Houston to take a private drive with just the two of
them in Houston's Ferrari. David and Justin were up front,
driving the bus to their next show, which was just fine with
her. Everyone was behaving as if she had lost her mind.
So what if Diego was different? He didn't have to be with
her every single second. She understood that. What could
happen to her in a moving bus, anyway? She rolled her eyes
in blatant disrespect, remembering Houston's warnings before
Laney managed to drag him away.
Houston didn't trust Diego at all, especially since he
wouldn't be traveling with them every single minute. But he
would be with her when she needed him. Wasn't that the
most important thing?
How could she describe Diego's abilities? She wasn't sure
she could. His abilities were unfathomable. He had to be the
most gifted person she'd ever run across, his strength
unbelievable. He was even a little frightening at times. So
what if he could just appear? She mentally shrugged. Houston
probably just hadn't seen him at first and couldn't stomach
admitting to it. It really didn't matter. Houston didn't trust
him. Somehow, the fact that he had saved her life didn't hold
any water now, either.
That really irritated Titania. Ungrateful jerks, she silently
cursed. If I had been in the hospital for a week, then
everything would have been fine, she thought with sarcastic
heat. She watched the winking stars in the sea of the night
sky. I appreciate it.
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I am very glad to know you do.
"Diego," she whispered and her eyes popped open with his
sudden reappearance. She felt her heart leap at his voice.
She hadn't realized until she heard him again that she had
missed his unusual contacts. She searched the inner sanctum
of the bus, but she was still alone. "Where are you?"
In San Francisco.
"Already?" She sat up, stunned.
I had to ensure your arrival would be secure.
She felt a hesitation in his answer. "What is it?"
Something does not feel right. It is not Brakka. But
something ... I will search more. Do not worry over it.
"I never worry," she said with a defiant tilt of her chin.
I did not mean to imply that you would, cara. His voice
warmed her, slid over her like hot honey. Her breathing grew
ragged. How could he do that to her? And he wasn't even
there!
I could be, he said, his voice shimmering into her
thoughts.
"No. No, that's okay." His haunting, masculine laughter
reached her, reverberated between her ears. Her entire body
hummed. Her forehead fell to her lifted knees. "Go away,
Diego."
As you wish. When he was gone, she felt completely
isolated. Bereft.
What was happening to her? How could this man be
affecting her so deeply when no one ever had before? It was
a good thing he hadn't kissed her again, either. She lost all
her senses when he did that. It felt like her entire body was
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on fire when he did. She shook herself. Hard. "Don't think
about it," she admonished herself.
It wasn't fair he had lips like that. It just wasn't. They had
to be a package deal with those eyes. She melted whenever
she looked at them, and his gaze could see right through her.
She knew he could. Piercing, bright. Bold. Just like the man.
She sighed. Then her eyes shot open. Just how strong
were his abilities? How strong was he period? He could talk to
her so effortlessly, and she had witnessed his physical
strength, lifting Houston like a bag of cotton balls. Houston
stood six foot four if he was an inch. Diego was as tall with a
muscular, defined strength. He exuded strength without being
huge. It was subtle. He brought to mind the strength of the
Roman and Greek sculptures. His shoulders were the most
remarkable, commanding and broad.
She rubbed her chin on a raised knee. Was she being too
lax? Was she taking his help for granted? Did Diego have a
reason, a plan? Was Houston right to be distrustful? He'd
never acted like this before. Houston liked everyone.
She tried to remember how it had felt when he had treated
her. It was fuzzy, the whole night, the attack and what had
followed a hazy memory in her mind. Had he done that? Had
he manipulated her thoughts somehow? Could he do that?
She swallowed, once, slowly, as she made herself try to
remember. It frightened her to realize no matter how hard
she tried to remember the details, she couldn't. How many
times had he been in the same room with her after all, then?
She sat back, pushing herself further into the cushions of the
bench, her arms tightening.
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I am stronger than you will ever know. Quit trying to scare
yourself. You are getting upset over nothing. You will never
be in danger from me.
How do you know what I am thinking about? she asked
before she could restrain the impulse, feeling out the pathway
and following it outward.
I have discovered when it comes to you, it is best to be
prepared, he said in a slight, humored taunt. You are
becoming very adept. I am impressed. She heard a note of
pride in his voice.
She gasped, her limbs hugging her legs tighter. I'm not
speaking! How am I doing this? How am I talking like this?
She felt fingers curl around her throat in delicious torment,
making her blood pump through her body with a molten ache.
Something I have been considering for several days as well. I
must be rubbing off on you, he joked warmly, and she felt his
calm reassurance. You were not even aware the first time it
happened. You took me by surprise, and as always, stole the
air from my soul.
How can I feel you? she whispered cautiously in her mind.
She knew it had to be him. Her hand lifted, covering the
sensation, unconsciously holding it closer.
That, cara, is all me. She had the sense of a male grin,
pleased with himself.
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