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He gives me a long glance, his eyes moving down my body and I feel made for him. It makes me shudder and I rub my hands down my arms before whispering, “Ric, there’s still blood on your face.”
Jerking, his big palms go to his face and he paws himself in a lot less gentle way than I would’ve before frowning. He shakes his head. “Been so preoccupied with you, I forgot to wash off.” Walking over to his kitchen sink, he turns on the water and splashes himself in the face. Then he lets out a curse, noticing he needs to take care of that cut on his arm from the knife.
“It’s not infected is it?” I ask in a worried tone and when he looks at me there’s so much gratitude that I fall back on the pillows, faded, dazed and utterly smitten and he lets out a soft growl. That simple question elicited so much appreciation from him and I flood with emotions. “Has nobody ever cared for you?”
My voice is so delicate it sounds as if I’m speaking to him from the clouds and his lids lower, his reply free from any self-pity. “No.”
I drag for an inhale as my heart yanks in my chest. “Let me help you with that...”
“You sit that sassy ass back down,” he snaps. “I don’t want you anywhere near this gore or you’ll piss me off.”
“But why?” I cry out, not understanding his aversion to assistance and he sits on a stool by the fire.
“I can handle my own shit, Silver,” he grunts. “Besides, you’re too young to be looking at this stuff, can’t have you fainting again.”
A flash of embarrassment washes over me because I’m usually not the kind who gives out that easily but the revelation of who he is did a number on me. Out of all the people he could be, he ends up being one ofthem. I mean what if he’s...? No, that’s not possible.
Forcing myself to get a grip, I focus on Relic again but maybe I shouldn’t have because he’s taken his shirt off. The temperature in the room seems to rise and I hold down a sob when I notice the runes on his back, chest and shredded stomach.Oh, he’s definitely one of them...there’s no doubt about that.His head is lowered, his eyes busy with paying attention to clean the cut and I take my chances. Sliding out of the bed, I soundlessly cross the floor until I’m behind him.
Shadows from the fire play all over him and I inhale, grabbing a washcloth to help him but when I try, he angrily brushes my hand off. Stubborn, old man! Why won’t he accept even a tiny dose of healthy attention?
“Does it hurt?” I ask.
“I’ve had a lot worse,” he grunts and I wince at the response but luckily he doesn’t notice. “Besides, having you around is a hell of a painkiller.”
Wringing my hands, I whisper, “But I’m not doing anything.”
“You’re breathing,” he rasps. “You’re here, by my side, a young girl not shying away from someone like me...,you’ve no idea how often I count my blessings now that you’re here.”
Those emotions of mine start racing again and I tentatively put a hand on his strong shoulder. He shudders a little underneath my palm and I marvel at his spectacular strength. Men kill themselves in the gym to gain what he has, inject themselves with steroids to come close to even half the man that Relic is and while I have sympathy for their efforts, I understand it’s nothing one can fake.
It’s natural and has to come from within, has to come from someone who has the heart of a soldier. My gaze goes from admiring his muscles and down to a tattoo on his forearm. Unlike the other ones it’s not a rune and it spells a name.
“Who’s Heidi?” I whisper and he freezes up.
“Nobody,” he says in a gruff tone, pulling the sleeve down but my heart’s pounding.
“Is it your wife, your daughter...?”
“There’s no woman in my life.”
That rapid heartbeat in my chest eases but I keep pushing him even though I can see the distress rising in him. For whatever reason, he hates talking about this but I don’t know when to stop. “Please, tell me...,” I urge but he lets out a growl and a curse, grabbing the rubbing alcohol and throws it into the fire. The flames blow up, scaring me and I let out a scream, running for the door. Yanking it open, I gasp when I’m hit in the face by a blast so forceful it feels like being whipped. Just as fast, the door slams and Relic presses up behind me, breathing raggedly.
“Don’t go out there,” he pleads, his voice full of desperate regret and I feel his breath on my nape. “I didn’t mean to lose control around you. I’ll never lose control like that ever again.”
“Ric, maybe I s...should...,” I stutter, turning limp when I feel his length grow against my thigh.
His voice turns urgent, lowering into a whisper. “There’s nothing but woods and sharp cliffs around here. If you go out there in this weather, the fay will mistake you for one of their own.” He twirls a strand of my hair between his fingers and my body goes soft when his hands slide down my hips, stimulating me and coaxing me until I want to lean my head back and drop into him.
This man...this hard-ass mobster, thinks I look like the fay...
“And I’ll kill anything trying to take you away from me, natural or supernatural,” he adds and my knees buck when he turns me around and his eyes bore into mine.
I nod, not protesting and he leads me back to the bed, his eyes keeping me chained and I crawl beneath the covers while he follows my every move. Once I’m helplessly lying there, he yanks his pants down until he’s standing only in his boxers and my gaze darts. Holy moly...there’s unabashed desire in his eyes and this is a man who knows what he wants.
“You take any issue with me getting into that bed with you?” he rasps and I shake my head, even though one of my worst fears is sleeping with a mobster next to me.
“Are you going to make love to me?” I whimper.
