Shadows Of A Wolf Moon(38)
Her breath caught in her throat as she took in the discolored, mottled flesh that once was smooth flesh. She stepped closer and placed her palm on in the middle of the scarred expanse.
He hissed.
She jerked her hand back. “Did I hurt you?”
“No.” He shook his head and then looked at the floor. “It’s just… No one has ever touched my back before. Not even my mother.”
Her heart cracked like glass for all he’d endured. Anger, sadness, revenge all poured out at once through the tiny fissures. She stepped closer, wrapped her arms around him and pressed her lips to his angry flesh.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t pity me. I’ve never done well with pity.” His hardness in his voice made her flinch.
“I don’t pity you, Lucien. I’m sorry for all the pain it caused you. I’m sorry your brother did this to you.”
He grabbed her arms and tightened them around his waist. She smiled and laid her head against his uneven skin. She swallowed back the angry tears bubbling up in her eyes. She knew how he felt.
He felt less than worthy.
She felt the same.
“So since we are sharing, there is something you need to know about me.” She cleared her throat.
“What’s that?” He turned.
“Apparently even if I got out of stripping, my options for jobs are quite limited. I got really excited and motivated to take one of those online quizzes to see what my purpose was in life.”
“And?”
“I got personal snuggler.” She shook her head. It sounded even more stupid when she said it out loud. “It’s where you hold people so they can go to sleep.”
“That’s a thing?”
“In Japan it’s a thing.” She cringed and looked away.
“And you took this seriously?” A slow smile crept onto his face.
“Yes! It’s how you find out your calling, your destiny in life!” She looked at him with wide eyes.
“Well, did you take it again?”
“Yes, two more times. The second time it said funeral director.”
He barked out a laugh.
“It’s not funny, Lucien.” Her heart pounded in her chest. She should have kept it to herself.
“It’s a stupid test. It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Says the guy who’s never taken it.” She narrowed her eyes.
“I’ve taken it. It told me I should be a male model.”
“Ha! See! It’s accurate.” She dropped her head. “The last test gave me the most ridiculous answer of all.”
“More ridiculous than a funeral director?”
“Yes.” She sighed. “A lawyer.”
“What’s so ridiculous about that? It makes perfect sense to me. You would be carrying on your family’s legacy.” He nudged her chin up with his finger. “Plus you’re stubborn and like to argue.”
“You have to be smart to be a lawyer.” She shook her head. “I don’t think it’s up my alley.”
“I think you don’t give yourself enough credit. We need good lawyers, smart people who care about others. I’ve seen how you look after those who can’t look after themselves. Like Mrs. Willis.”
His faith in her tugged at her heart.
He pulled her into his muscular chest. The city streetlight beamed across his sinfully handsome face. His heavy lidded gaze seared her. The energy shifted. His erection pressed into her stomach. Her body warmed and then melted as he covered her mouth with his.
“I want you again,” he murmured against her lips and he picked her up in his massive arms.
“Good. I want you to have me,” she said breathlessly.
He carried her to the bed and carefully laid her down. Time and noise fell away until they were the only two people that existed. He moved between her legs, kissing and touching her with slow deliberation.
She’d never felt more loved and cherished even if it was for a moment.
In life, she knew a moment was all she was guaranteed.
Chapter Sixteen
Lucien squinted as the blinding morning sun filtered through the lace curtains. He rolled over to his side and pulled Catty into his arms.
“We don’t have time for another round.” She laughed and she tried to wiggle away.
“There’s always time for another round.” He buried his face in the crook of her neck.
His hand went between her legs and stopped.
He frowned. “Why are you already dressed?” He inhaled her scent at her neck. “And showered?”
“Because it’s almost eight o’clock and I need coffee.” She rolled over and kissed him on the mouth. “Besides, you said something last night about some meeting today. I thought you needed to be up early.”