Page 71 of Unravel Me

"Oh dear Fate…" I whisper. "How… did this happen?"

He doesn’t answer. He sits with his head bowed, looking at his hands resting on the nesting kit.

Well. Here it is again, my complete lack of experience when it comes to difficult topics, and this one is super difficult. Maybe it’s too traumatic, or maybe… one more time I brushed against this wall that I sense in him.

I struggle, fighting with myself, trying to say something that won't sound fucking flat and insufficiently sympathetic, but what could I possibly say? That’s so horrible? I’m at a loss. In the end, I manage to force out a weak, choked-out, "I'm sorry," in a trembling, raspy voice.

Mauro’s gaze stays on the package containing the nesting supplies, and after a moment, mine follows.

Slowly, I lift my hand and place it beside his on top of the bundle. But I don't reach for his hand or try to cover it with mine. That would be too intimate.

We’re strangers, and strangers have… secrets.

Then our eyes meet and we stare at each other for a while, my thoughts bouncing around.

Seeing the uncertainty on my face, my utter confusion over what is going on between us, a flicker of guilt crosses his face, something almost painful, as if he's angry with himself for making me feel this way.

Then he bends over his phone again.

A few seconds later, the synthesized voice fills the room.

"Please, forgive me, Jared. I sense you are conflicted. You want to know more. And I'm not giving it to you, but I have a reason. Please, don't take what I'm saying the wrong way, but I don't want to tell you my story, because it’s… heavy stuff and you're still recovering from your heat, trying to process what has happened over the last few days. It would be too much to put on your shoulders right now. So I'd rather wait until things settle." His gaze lands on the package. And he writes a few more words.

"Think of this nesting kit simply as a gift from a friend who wants to help you through this challenging time. You don't owe me anything. I'll wait as long as it takes. I'm a veteran at waiting."

I close my eyes for a moment and let out a slow breath. What he says brings me relief. He sees the imbalance here: I told him my story, while he hasn’t told me his. So the secrets may unravel after all. Still part of me wants to demand that he tell me now, right here, whatever it is, no matter how painful or difficult it may be, but on the other hand… there’s chaos in my head over the whole True Mate thing, the fae, and the possibility of continuing my search.

Whatever happens, whatever I choose, I have to keep Tommy in mind. I’ll be changing my life’s course, and his too. For my son’s sake, I need to have a completely clear head.

"Then I’ll wait until then to make my decision, and I hope it will all be processable after all. Because what I can say for sure, if it were, I would be open to exploring… us."

Wait, what? Wow!

Those last words slipped out of me, going against my cautious plans, but they came from my heart. I wanted to say them so badly that it overruled my common sense.

And I immediately see how strong a reaction they trigger in his energy.

A smile spreads across Mauro's face, so bright it reveals his perfectly even teeth. He quickly types another message.

"'Explore' already sounds good to me!"

The joy on his face is so completely genuine, and somehow that makes me bashful.

I'm not coming to him with a clean slate. I'm a divorced omega with a child. I have a controversial past. I've basically prostituted myself to those men for lucrative contacts. And I literally had sex with some green guy in the woods yesterday, and yet… Mauro looks genuinely happy, he doesn't seem to care. He wants me no matter what. It's almost radiating from his energy, from his heart. No hesitation, no judgment. His soul seems to embrace me exactly as I am, with no 'but'…

It's sweet, and it stirs something soft inside me, subtle tingly pleasure.

We stare at each other, both… silly grinning!

And my intuition whispers into my ear: he's the right one! Yes, go for it, don't stall!

Damn, so tempting…

I bite my lip, then slowly raise my hand and brush my fingers over his cheek.

Mauro’s beautiful eyes are fixed on me, our gazes tightly locked. My fingers gently caress his cheekbone and jaw. His breathing quickens, and then he turns his head slightly. My hand somewhat slips from his cheek, but then his lips land on the inside of my hand, planting a soft, respectful kiss there. I blush. Nobody has ever kissed me like this before. Like a gentleman.

The atmosphere hangs in the air like golden champagne bubbles, fizzing sweetly between us.