Page 109 of Plunge into Obsession

My hand moved of its own accord, and I traced the bump on his skin of the scar there.

It was old, but it was obvious from the size and the way it had healed that this had been a pretty big, nasty wound.

The skin might have healed, but it didn’t heal nicely. It was slightly raised and discolored, and the only reason I had missed it until now was because of his tan skin and the tattoo that covered almost the entirety of his back.

But now that I was tracing the old wound, I realized it was even bigger than I had initially thought.

My finger moved from one end to the other.

What had happened to him?

Gabriel opened his eyes, and I jumped back in surprise.

Before I could pull my hand away, he had it clasped in his own, his palm warm and dry as he pressed my palm against his skin.

I let out a deep breath and tried to pull away.

He firmed his grip.

The way his eyes were closed off told me the story about how he got this scar wouldn’t be one he’d tell me openly.

“Gabriel,” I said, letting out a small protest when it didn’t look like he was going to let me go any time soon. “Let go of me.”

“What were you doing,mi cariño?” he asked, his voice gruff from sleep.

I shook my head, but no words came out. I didn’t have an answer for him.

“Gabriel.”

He squeezed my hand, and for a brief moment, panic entered as I thought he might just break my wrist.

It wouldn’t be all that hard.

He could do it.

But then he loosened his grip on me, and I yanked my hand away before he could change his mind.

I made a show of rubbing my wrist and glared up at him, even though it hadn’t hurt.

I had just been scared.

Gently, he took my wrist back, and I held still and watched him as he ran his thumb over the side there, back and forth, eliciting a soft gasp from me.

Then he brought my wrist up to his lips and kissed the inside of it.

I could only watch him.

He was such an enigmatic man. I didn’t know what he was thinking half the time.

He sat up on the bed after a while and pulled me along with him.

“Come on. Let’s get ready, or we’ll be late.”

I was still too shocked by his reaction to my touching his scar to say anything. I let him lead me in a daze, still reeling.

This morning was exactly what I needed to remind myself that Gabriel Cadorna was a dangerous man.

Just because there had been moments of gentleness from him did not make him gentle or nice.

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