Denying Bjorn (10 page)

Lydia rose and reached for him, but he pulled away. “He left a message yesterday on the voice mail at work . . . demanding that I meet him in the stairwell of the second floor. He said if I didn’t meet him, he’d come into the office.”

“All of this occurred before we met to come here just last night?” He stroked his chin as he stared into space. Bjorn’s eyebrows knitted together. “So, it just so happens that his tongue was shoved way the hell down your goddamn throat!” he thundered angrily as his fist hit the desk. “You looked like you were ready to fuck him!”

“Tha-That’s not what happened,” she stammered nervously. “What you see isn’t what happened. I would nev—”

“Please, spare me your lies,” he spat out.

“But, Bjorn!”

“Leave,” he whispered before turning on his heel.

Lydia grabbed his arm. “Bjorn, you have to listen to me. I—”

“Leave!” His voice boomed throughout the bedroom. Violently, he pulled from her grasp. “I don’t have to listen to a damn thing that comes out of your mouth,” he snapped. “As far as I’m concerned, everything you say is a bloody lie!”

“I’m not lying to you. I just didn’t tell you I was meeting him. He wouldn’t go away unless I spoke to him, and I thought this could be handled without help from you. Apparently he was stalking us. I just wanted to send him away,” she said with a sniffle. “Please, don’t do this to us. I’m so sorry. I was wrong.”

“There is no us,” he growled before turning away from her. “Gather your clothes, and get out now.”

Never making eye contact with her, he pulled on a pair of gray sweats and slipped into a short-sleeved black T-shirt. “I’m going for a long drive. When I return, I don’t want to find you here.”

With that, he stormed out of the bedroom, into the living room, and out the front door. When he slammed the door shut, she jumped.

Lydia sat on the bed, rocking back and forth. It felt as though she wasn’t really there. This all couldn’t be happening. This was a bad dream. It had to be. This equaled the effect of revealing her dark secret. Now, it didn’t even matter, but she knew in her heart he’d never love her once discovering her past.

Chapter Twelve

After an extremely long drive, Bjorn returned Saturday evening when he was absolutely certain Lydia had vacated the house. Even though he wanted her gone, his heart sank as soon as he crossed the threshold. The silence was deafening and had now replaced the happiness that used to reside there.

Emptiness. He stood there, in the large living room, staring at the couch he’d pleasured his woman on. He snorted. His woman. She was no longer his, but belonged to a dhampir. He stormed into the kitchen, tossing his keys on the granite counter, which slid across and fell onto the hardwood floor.

She’d been to his home just one night, but yet it still echoed of the fun they’d shared while raiding the refrigerator last night. In spite of everything, he missed her dearly. He leaned against the counter, recalling her endearing sense of humor, and how fine she looked with her hair all mussed up from their passionate play. They could stay up all night, talking about any and everything of interest since they had so much in common.

Bjorn held his head in his palms as her laughter playfully echoed in his head. She had a beautiful laugh. She always had. His anger had subsided somewhat, and he knew he’d made a mistake by throwing her out.

What had happened? He’d taken a chance on love, the second time he’d ever loved someone. Was this not meant to be? Did being in love mean that there was always someone, besides death, lurking around the corner waiting to snatch it away? Did he have to heavily guard and protect his heart as well?

Her floral perfume still lingered, as did her feminine scent. He inhaled deeply, filling his lungs of her. He’d never get over Lydia, this he was quite sure of.

The bad thing about this morning? He’d actually believed her. Of course, he was angry with her for neglecting to tell him she was going off to meet Lars. It was also the fact that the bastard had his hands all over her, thrusting his tongue down her throat.

A glutton for punishment, he stormed into the room and stared at the pictures. He frowned. Yes, Dawn had set her up. Dhampirs possessed the power to hypnotize, make their victims unaware of their surroundings, leaving them vulnerable.

With a curse, he plowed through his bedroom and to the door of another, smaller room where his sacred altar was enclosed. Closing his eyes, he calmed himself before entering. He needed to access the ancient magic. It had been a long time, especially since he’d grounded himself to this world.

Slowly, he turned the doorknob and entered the room. After flicking on the light, he slowly tread to the large tapestry hanging on the far corner of the wall. Electric sparks sizzled and snapped around his body as he set foot into an ancient castle. Before him stood a table crafted of gold. Dragon carvings and exquisite jewels decorated the ornate table.

The large crystal mirror hovered mysteriously over the table, against the wall. It began to swirl with iridescent colors at his presence. Feeling the strong vibrations, he closed his eyes while opening his heart. He needed to forgive her, even if there was a chance she wouldn’t forgive him. There could be no animosity or anxiety geared toward her. Bjorn gathered all his energy from within while concentrating on that specific moment in the past.

“Take me to that moment in time.” He swallowed hard, realizing the pain he’d be reliving since he would see the actual happening of the event, but that didn’t matter. He needed to confirm his suspicions, see her side of the story.

Soon, he found himself standing in the stairwell, near the exit sign. Lars and Lydia stood before him, talking. For a brief moment, Lars stared deeply into her eyes. Afterward, she stared straight ahead, even through Lars. The dhampir laughed wickedly as he drew her near, taking advantage of the moment.

Bjorn curled a fist and witnessed Lars’s tongue invading Lydia’s mouth while he pulled her limp body close to his and his hands palmed her breasts. Slowly, he slid down to Lydia’s pelvic region as he fondled her between the thighs. While all of this was happening, Dawn slithered in from the exit door, taking several photos with her phone. She smiled as she retreated back through the door. After that, Lars quickly released Lydia. That was how it had gone down.

Seeing red, Bjorn threw his head back, releasing a guttural cry. Tears stung his eyes as he fought to fend off the rage infiltrating him. No, he couldn’t allow himself to succumb to it again. Angrily, he swiped at the image, but the two figures only turned to a black dust.

Soon, Bjorn was standing at his altar again. His body shaking, he opened his eyes, glaring straight ahead into the crystal mirror. The natural instinct to fight for and protect what was his coiled inside him.

Images formed in the crystal, making him sick to his stomach. Lars wasn’t finished with her, not yet. He’d be pursuing her soon. He was determined to make Lydia his and take her away, never to be seen again.

“Over my dead body,” Bjorn growled.

But, there was something else. Another dark shadow was lurking in the depths. This was the secret she kept hidden away from him, deep inside herself. The little something she hadn’t told him the night they strolled along the beach. He wanted to discover it, but he couldn’t breach it. Then, he became riddled with shame. He had no right to use magic to probe into the depths of her mind. It was her place to tell him.

No matter what, he’d fight till the end of time to protect her, whether they were a couple or not.

Apparently, she had a past she’d been struggling to keep from him, but that was okay, he told himself. Whatever it was, he was determined not to let it be the governing factor of deciding their fate. Together they’d decide their fate, and he hoped she’d let him back into her life after the way he’d treated her.

Chapter Thirteen

That evening, locked away in her bedroom, Lydia lay on her bed, thinking about Bjorn. She wondered where he was and what he could possibly be doing. Regret and guilt festered inside her as she recalled the torment in his eyes. She had been dead wrong in her actions, and she knew it.

She’d thought about confronting Dawn and calling her out on her little photography stunt, but for now, all she wanted to do was stare into an abyss. She was sure she and her cousin would exchange words later.

Music played quietly in the background as she turned over on her back, staring up at the ceiling. Her thoughts also centered in on Monday morning. Things surely would be awkward when he walked in at nine o’ clock. How the hell could she look him in the eye now, after her dishonesty?

It was high time to start looking for a place of her own. Perhaps Monday she’d call out. No, no, that wouldn’t work. That would be like running from the mess she’d created. Although, calling out and not having to face Bjorn seemed like a good idea, but . . . that’s exactly how she’d ended up in this position in the first place.

Lydia sat up on her haunches, crossing her legs Indian-style. Hunching her shoulders, she looked around the room, deep in her thoughts. She needed to speak with him, but didn’t have the guts enough to call. Most likely, he’d cuss her out and hang up on her.

The kind, gentle, loving man she knew was now dangerously enraged. Madness had spewed from his eyes this morning. She felt his anger rolling off him in waves. Who could blame him? He’d taken a chance on her, and she’d screwed him over royally.

She’d never felt this alone in her entire life. Everything seemed so bleak right now. Lydia sighed her agitation. He needed time, as did she. Hopefully, they could talk sometime next week and he could understand her position.

Shamefully, she closed her eyes. Could she be so selfish? Why did she expect him to understand her position? It was unfair, and perhaps she didn’t deserve him at all at this point. Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be.

“Damn you to hell, Lars! You too, Dawn!” She cursed them both. She knew she hadn’t kissed the dhampir. It was a trick. He’d had to have hypnotized her. That’s why she was feeling so damned woozy. The prick! She recalled the moment she’d lost track of where she was and heard the door slam. That must have been when that skank ass snapped the damned photos!

“Son of a bitch!” she muttered under her breath. If Dawn wasn’t a low-down sleazy bitch heathen of a cunt, she didn’t know who was! Lars was no better. At least in the past, she’d thought him to have some type of honor. Apparently, he didn’t possess such a trait.

She shook her head in angst as she rose from the bed. Well, there was no use in stewing in her own negative juices. She needed to focus on all this mess and somehow turn it into something positive.

Lydia needed to get out of the house, get a pedicure, manicure, maybe even a massage. There had to be something to try to temporarily get her mind off things. Monday was approaching, and she needed to arm herself for coming face-to-face with Bjorn, fast.

* * * *

It was almost dusk when she gathered her purse and decided on a drive, perhaps the beach where she and Bjorn had spent their first romantic evening together. She shook her head. No, then she wouldn’t be getting her mind off things.

Just as she walked into the living room, Dawn slinked in, a shit-eating grin covering her face. Lydia’s eyes narrowed as they stood face-to-face, staring each other down. Dawn folded her arms across her chest.

“You need to get the hell out of my face,” Lydia bit out.

“Did Bjorn like the pictures?”

“Oh, you’re stooping to an all-time low!”

“Judging by the look on your face, I say it’s all over with.” She looked her over from head to toe. “You look like you lost your best friend.”

Lydia tried walking around her cousin, but Dawn blocked her from gaining entrance to the exit. Instinct took over, and Lydia found she’d snaked a hand around her cousin’s neck and backed her hard against the wall.

“You’re nothing but poison,” she sneered while banging the back of her cousin’s head against the wall. “I used to feel so bad because of the things you endured in the past to protect me. But you know what? You’re a miserable, self-loathing, pathetic excuse for a human being, and I owe you nothing! I’m ashamed to call you cousin. Fucking ashamed that the same blood courses through our veins! From here on out, you’re on your own. I’m moving the hell out!”

With that, Lydia released her grip on her cousin and headed for the door. Dawn came after her, but this time, she was prepared. Grasping her by the shoulders, Lydia stuck out her right leg and thrust her to the ground. Dawn landed with a thud, the wind knocked out of her.

“And this is payback, bitch!” While she was down, Lydia delivered a blow to the woman’s gut.

“Ooomph!” Dawn curled into a fetal position, squeezing her eyes shut.

Lydia wanted to do more damage, like stomp the living hell out of her while she was down, but what would that solve? And where was the honor? She decided against it.

“Don’t get in my way anymore!” she spat. “From here on out, my debt to you is paid. Fuck with me again, and I’m going to seriously do some damage. Right now, the only thing that’s saving me from destroying you is going to jail. If you think I’m playing, make a move, and you’ll find out just how serious I am.” Lydia trembled with fury. Her body literally shook as she spied her cousin rolling around on the ground.

“You”—Dawn groaned in pain—“value a man more than family,” she said breathlessly.

“You’re not worth my time.” Lydia stepped over her cousin as she curled even tighter into the fetal position. “Now, with that blow to the gut, we’re even.” Lydia turned and stalked toward the door.

She walked to her car, opened the door, and slid in. She’d finish packing her belongings later on tonight, and tomorrow she’d see about renting some storage space across town. She needed to get out of the house immediately and didn’t care whether or not she had to stay in a hotel room until she found a place of her own.

Yes, both she and Dawn’s names were on the lease at the condo, but at this point, she didn’t care. If she had to look at her cousin one more time, she’d puke. Work was different, and she could easily be ignored. Right now, what Lydia needed was her own space.