SeduceMe by Calista Fox Page B

Jane might have in mind—and what effect it would have on
Shana’s image issues, because he’d so quickly recognized her distress for what
it was. And, of course, she’d sought reassurance from him because he knew Jane
so well.
    He said, in a rougher voice than he’d ever heard coming from
himself, “She only wants to please you. And sate her desire for you.”
    It was pure hell to basically hand her over to Jane. But he
knew Jane would only do things that brought Shana pleasure. He and Jane were of
like minds, after all.
    Shana’s look turned grateful before her gaze dropped to
Jane. “It’s not you,” she said in a contrite tone. “It’s me. My problems with
me, specifically.”
    “You can’t cure that overnight,” Jane said in an empathetic
tone. “I get that. But when you forget about the way you think people
see you and, instead, you feel their response to you… Oh my God.” She
let out a long sigh. “You have no idea how truly passionate you are when you
let go of all of those damning thoughts that are, I assure you, unwarranted.”
    Shana’s lips pressed together for a moment. Drake saw the
prickle of pain she felt as her eyes blinked rapidly, as though fighting off
tears. He wanted to jump in and reassure her too, but this wasn’t a moment
between him and Shana. This was a pivotal point between her and the physical
replication of her childhood nemesis—the petite women she’d envied and had felt
shunned by and inferior to.
    Drake knew he could spew an endless litany of flattering
sentiments—all true and heartfelt—but they wouldn’t quite repair the damage the
way similar sentiments coming from Jane could.
    So, once again he remained on the fringes. A difficult place
to linger. A torturous restraint, really, that made him realize how important
this woman was to him. Whatever he’d thought he and Jane were up to this
evening had swiftly morphed into something entirely different when they’d
learned all the intricacies of the situation.
    Now he better understood the reasons why Shana had retreated
into herself. But as much as he was dying to remedy all that ailed her, he had
to recognize—and accept—his own limitations in the matter. He had to take a
step back and see that what plagued her was not so much about being snubbed by
men—which he could certainly make up for given how attracted he was to her and
how desperately he wanted to shelter her from any hurt feelings—but that she’d
felt insignificant when compared to other women. Women who looked like Jane.
    Given all of this, he stayed rooted where he was. The
outsider looking in, though the occasional glances that came his way from Shana
provided a hint of relief as they confirmed she was still as fascinated by and
as drawn to him as he was her.
    But she too recognized the intimacy between her and Jane for
what it was. A cleansing of sorts, yes. More specifically, though, he sensed
the attraction on Shana’s part went far beyond the need for acceptance. Despite
her vampire strength, Jane’s size conveyed fragility and delicacy. But her
passion knew no bounds and that passion obviously called to Shana’s.
    How could he possibly deny her an ounce of fulfillment, even
if it was delivered by someone other than him?
    “You obsess over stuff even more than I do.”
    Her voice broke into his ruminations. He glanced up from the
fireplace he’d briefly been unseeingly staring at to find Shana’s gaze on him
again.
    He said, “I’m trying very hard to see all of this for what
it truly is.”
    She nodded. “Hard to process all at once, but…” Her eyes
drifted to Jane. “I have to stop looking so hard and start…feeling. Right?”
    Drake couldn’t see Jane’s grin, but he could sense it.
    “Let me help you,” she said.
    Shana nodded.
    Drake’s fists clenched at his sides once more. This was more
difficult than he’d imagined. But he said nothing. He let Jane take the lead
again.
    Her hands disappeared under the silver