She shook her head, dismissing the idea of him having to confront Osamu. "I stopped letting her hurt me." She wasn't certain he would believe that, because she didn't know if she did.
"Look at me. I want to see your eyes. I want you to see mine because you have to believe that I'm telling you the absolute truth."
She couldn't resist. Who could? There was always that gentle note of command. Steel wrapped in velvet. She lifted her lashes and her heart jerked hard. Her sex clenched. Needy. Hungry. Shocking. His eyes were alive with so much. Rage that Osamu had made her feel less than she was. Hunger. That shocked her. It matched her own, maybe was even more. Something else. Something she'd never seen. It was difficult to recognize exactly what was there, but it made her heart flutter.
"She stole your heritage. At three, and even then, you were magnificent." His eyes blazed with the fire of pure truth. "Absolutely magnificent." He believed that and wanted her to believe it. "You're even more so now. Do you understand me?"
She nodded because she couldn't speak. No one had ever made her feel the way he did. No one had ever believed in her. Or complimented her. Or made her feel of value.
"This room is sacred. She can't come in here and make you think less of yourself. Not here. I have to know you're with me on that."
Mariko nodded again. She didn't want any other person in this room. Ricco created intimacy here – a sensual experience encompassing the two of them. A power exchange to be sure, but one that benefited both. It was mutual. She gave herself to him, trusting he would make the experience good for her. He accepted her gift of trust and made her feel as if she were the only woman in the world for him. Strangely, that feeling carried outside of the room as well.
"Here, you look in the mirror and see what I see. See the incredible, courageous woman I see. You give yourself to me. You stand there quietly, waiting. Believing I'll take care of you. Trusting me. That kind of gift, woman, is beyond any price, but especially when given from a woman born and bred on control and discipline. Don't think for one moment that I'll ever take that for granted. I won't. I know how vulnerable this makes you feel. By surrendering yourself to me, giving yourself into my care, you've given me more than any other person could ever give, and I'll treasure that gift for all time."
There was no way for Mariko to continue looking him in the eye. He saw into her soul, into secret places, desires she had pushed down and buried deep. Needs she didn't want to acknowledge. She'd forgotten how to dream. Until she met Ricco Ferraro, she had existed to bring justice to criminals. He had opened an entirely different world for her, and all her secrets were there for him to discover. He was uncovering them one by one.
"Mariko." He said her name in the way that he had. Pouring everything into one word. "You're safe with me. Everything about you is safe. What and who you really are. Outside these walls, you're the shadow rider. Inside, you're all woman. Unbelievably beautiful. Your soul shines through. You can see it in the photographs. I've developed the ones from our last session and they're incredible."
He caught her chin and lifted it, forcing her gaze back up to meet his. "Are you with me on this?"
She was with him on everything. She hadn't even realized she craved human contact. Kindness. Decency. To think that even for one moment she'd contemplated killing him, removing a man like him from the world.
"I came here to kill you," she blurted out. Ashamed. Horrified. Her eyes filled with tears. With remorse. With such guilt she could barely hold her head up.
"No you didn't, bella. You came here to save me – and you have."
She blinked. She didn't know what that meant. Save him? He looked at her as if she were special to him. As if she were that one woman. She wanted to be, but she knew better. He was a good man, but a poor bet for a woman to take on. She didn't share. She might not know many things about herself, but she knew that. Still, she could have him for a little while.
She was going to continue to try to find her brother. There was no trail to follow, but she planned to backtrack. She had to have missed something. Sooner or later, her enemy would strike against her, but in the meantime, she would live and enjoy every second Ricco had to spare for her.
A slow smile moved over his mouth, softening the edges but not quite lighting his eyes. He was gorgeous. The scars only made him more so. A beautiful warrior with a poet's soul. She smiled back and nodded that she was ready.