Page 77 of Renard's Deliverance

He had to hide his smile. “Then it’ll just be between us.”

“Well, I suppose it will be all right for you to treat me with care when we’re alone.”

He planned on doing it all the time, but if she wanted to believe that, then she could.

It wouldn’t stop him.

But he’d also make sure that she could keep her street cred. If it was important for her to know that she was tough, for others to know that, then he’d preserve that. But she didn’t have to pretend with him.

“But, Gem, you not taking painkillers now because you tried to overdose on them, that’s crazy.”

“I can’t trust that I won’t take too many. That’s why I don’t keep any in the house.”

“You want to end it all now, baby?”

“What? No! I’ve never felt like that again . . . not since I met Lilac.”

“Then it’s not going to be a problem,” he said firmly.

“You can’t know that.”

“I do. Because you’re strong and you have found your way to a good place. That was an extreme situation, it’s not going to happen again.”

She bit her lip, looking so uncertain. So unlike his girl that it hurt him.

“You could be right.”

“I always am.”

“Always?” she repeated dryly.

“Yep. Best you find that out now, it’ll save you a lot of worry and problems in the future.”

She giggled as she shook her head. Although he didn’t see what was so funny.

“I don’t want you in pain, Opal. Did you ever abuse substances in your past? Alcohol? Drugs?”

“I would never fucking touch drugs. Not after Mom. I did drink a lot for a while there, but I don’t overdo it now.”

“That’s good.” He grasped hold of her cheeks between his hands.

She licked those luscious lips. Hmm, she hadn’t taken off her makeup. Shouldn’t she do that before bed? Some of it had come off in the shower, but not much.

“So there’s no reason to think that you’ll get addicted to the pain pills, that you’ll take too many. I just want you to take some Tylenol, anyway. Start off small, yeah?”

“I . . . I . . . shit.”

“Tell me.”

She stared at him. “Don’t want to ask too much.”

“That’s another rule.”

“What is?”

“You can never ask too much. So don’t start thinking that you ever will.”

“Weird rule.”

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