Page 113 of The Quiet Witness

“Why wouldn’t I want to remember you?!” A doe-eyed look passed her face. “With muscles like these.” She laid a hand over his bicep. “I bet the ladies are all over you. Just like that damn… waitress.”

Wait, that sounded an awful lot like… jealousy?

Holding on to her squirming in his grasp, he muttered to himself. “I’ve not stocked up on truth serum, have I?”

Limbs a heap of loose muscles, she muttered. “Truth serum? Nope, I just feel sooo light, like I wanna kiss you.” Her hand flew to her face in shock. “Shit, did I actually just say that out loud?”

Lucien snorted. “Yep, I’ve officially done it. You are high as hell.”

A rush of giggles escaped her, shaking in his grip. “You, sir, are making me high.” Kate started singing, high pitched voice colliding with the walls, nodding her head in tune with her words. “Kiss meeee…” She frowned dramatically. “I forgot how the song goes.”

Lucien howled in laughter. He felt the load of the past few weeks lightening. Witnessing Kate like this, so carefree and light on her feet.

He’d expected her to fall into a deep sleep, maybe get a little sentimental. But this… What a surprise.

“You’re even more handsome when you smile.” Kate jabbed at his chest. “You should do that more often.” She gasped, jokingly adding. “Rock solid, I knew it!”

Shaking his head, he pulled her up against him once more, placing a steady hand on her waist to keep her from tipping over. Kate threw herself back, inching back toward the piano he was keeping her from. “Let me goooo.” Her hands pushed against his chest but when she felt there was no give, she stilled.

At once, her carefree face slipped, a serious frown taking over as she leveled her blue eyes with his, searching. Searching, for what?

Out of nowhere she traced her fingers over his arms. Lucien froze, muscles clenching under her exploring touch. Attention full on her trek across his shoulders, slowly making her way up to his neck.

Stop her. I need to stop her before she goes too far. I did the same at the piano not ten minutes ago, I can do it again, right?

Agonizingly slow her hands trailed over him. He withheld shudders. Feeling for once, at a loss for words. He had mentally prepared for a lot of things with Kate being high. But this option… hadn’t strayed into his mind.

With great effort he clasped his hand over hers, keeping her in place. He wanted it, he realized. Wanted her so badly, he was trembling on his legs like a child on the first day to school. He internally cursed himself, time after time he’d told himself not to get too close, he’d promised himself he could still choose to end it if necessary. But ever since he’d seen her blood covered hands, knew she’d give everything to protect those around her.

Things had changed.

Her fingers twitched in his, not backing away. “You don’t want me touching you.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement. Gone was her giddy behavior.

That was the thing with weed. It could make you feel like flying, and crying right after. Could bring you to the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows in a split second.

If only she knew just how much he wanted to catch her lips and show her how wrong she was.

He brushed the hair out of her face with tenderness. “I do, trust me. But not like this. Not while you’re under the influence. Whenever we make that step. If,” he corrected himself swiftly. “I want you to want it.” He swallowed heavily, cracking a little under her solemn gaze. “Just as badly as I do.”

“What a gentleman.” She murmured lowly, swaying on her feet.

Boy did he hope her recollections of tonight would be fuzzy at best, she would be beyond ashamed. Might even retreat back into that rock-solid shell, best not to let her string barbed wise at its entrance again, they’d come too far for that.

“Let’s really get you to bed this time, hmm.” He didn’t wait for an answer, picking her up, he cradled her against him. She let her head rest against his chest, eyes fluttering closed while he took the stairs toward her bedroom, careful not to jostle the lightweight girl in his arms.

Opening the bedroom door, he strode toward the bed, shifting the blankets before he let her sink into the mattress. Kate didn’t say anything, she merely turned on her side with a heavy sigh. Drawing the blankets up against her chin, his hand stilled, hesitant… he sat down next to her.

Breaths stilling, he watched her sleep. The hard lines on her face were a little less pronounced, making her look almost peaceful. Lucien reached out, slowly massaging through her hair, fingers tracing circles over her temple where the lingering stress gathered throughout the days. His breath hitched as she leaned into his touch, turning her head so his fingers trailed over her cheek. She smiled in her sleep.

He pulled away before he could make up his mind, drawing up the chair from the desk he placed it next to her bed, slipping into it with a heavy sigh.

It wouldn’t be a comfortable night. But leaving her alone now in this vulnerable state. It wasn’t like him. A grimace took over his face as he thought of what Max would do to a woman off-kilter.

Whatever came next. Whether she would ever feel the same thrum beneath her skin as he did when he laid eyes on her. It didn’t matter. Because when she stood there in the middle of the shelter’s parking lot, eyes filled with pain and desperation. He had felt her relax against him.

Kate’s head lifted slowly. A hazy look in her eyes as her hand stretched out toward him, looking for a comforting touch. “You’re here.”

Capturing her hand in his, he leaned closer. “I’m not going anywhere tonight.”