SELIN'S POV.
He stared at me, long, long enough to peel me open from the inside.
"You don't understand what I am," he said. "If you did, you wouldn't be sitting this close."
"Then tell me."
He shook his head. "You're not ready."
But I didn't back down this time. I leaned closer, not touching, but near enough that his breath hit my lips.
"You're bleeding. You're exhausted. You're breaking. And you still think I'm the one in danger?"
He swallowed hard.
"You are."
"From you?" I whispered.
His voice fractured. "Yes."
My heart hurt, like physically hurt.
"You said keeping away from me was the only mercy you had left."
He nodded once…barely.
"Well," I whispered, "I never asked for mercy."
His breath trembled. He was so close to losing control, I could feel it like heat on my skin. His whole body strained, every part of him wanting something he couldn't allow himself to have.
"Selin…" My name came out like a prayer and a warning.
