Page 35 of Corey
And he’d asked for nothing in return.
“You kept the light on,” she acknowledged.
“I’ll always keep a light on for you,” he murmured.
God, who was this man? He was making her heart beat faster, but in the best possible way. She found him so damn attractive, but it was so much more than that. He made her feel safe, and that was a luxury she hadn’t had in a very long time.
“You don’t have to tell me anything,” he said quietly. “But if you ever want to talk about it, I’m a pretty good listener.”
Her throat constricted with emotion, so she merely forced a nod then sat up. Talking about it never helped. But maybe one day she’d take him up on his offer.
“Same goes for you,” she said, and he arched a thick, dark brow. “You’ve been to hell and back, too, haven’t you?”
He sat up and scrubbed his hands over his beard. “Yeah, I have.”
“And has talking about it ever helped?”
“No.”
“It hasn’t for me either,” she murmured, stroking Loki’s back.
God, what a fucked-up pair they made. Both shattered and haunted by pasts that wouldn’t let go.
A spark of hope flared, and she wondered if their broken pieces could fit together to form something stronger.
It was a nice thought, but was it even possible?
Chapter Fourteen
Corey made them a delicious breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes with homemade whipped cream and perfectly-crisp bacon, while Sera only trusted herself to brew the coffee. Or, in this case, pop the k-cups into the little machine on the counter.
He didn’t mention her nightmare again, and she was grateful. She’d shown enough weakness and vulnerability. Besides, there was more to her than the tragedy she’d lived through, and she wanted him to see more than just her darkness.
Her attention moved to the wolf who sat beside Corey’s chair. Every once in a while, his master tossed him a piece of bacon and Storm caught it midair.
“He’s very loyal to you,” Sera said, observing the way the creature stared at his master, rarely leaving his side. “He knows you saved him.”
“He saved me, too,” Corey said in a low voice. She waited for him to offer more information, but he just shrugged. “It can get lonely up here. He’s great company.”
Corey petted the wolf’s head, scratching behind his ear, and Storm thumped his back foot. Sera chuckled, enjoying their interaction.
“Loki is my best friend, too,” she told him. “Have you ever had a cat?”
“Not as a pet, but I used to feed the stray cats that wandered around the base.”
“That was nice of you.”
“It wasn’t their fault people dumped them. Animals are a gift. They love unconditionally and they don’t judge. Hell, they love you more than themselves. Can’t say that about humans.”
“No, you can’t,” she agreed. “No matter how bad things get, Loki always makes me smile. He’s been there for me in a way no one else has. I know some people think that’s silly and don’t understand.”
“I understand,” he murmured. “Perfectly.”
He grabbed Storm’s big head and planted a kiss between his amber eyes.
“Give me a kiss and tell me you love me,” he said, and Storm licked his face. Corey chuckled and she saw pure joy on his face. They truly made a beautiful duo, the deep roots of their bond stunningly evident.
A soft buzzing filled the air, and Corey reached for the vibrating phone near his elbow. While he read the text, she took a moment to admire his hands. Some women liked abs, others went gaga for forearms, but she’d always appreciated a man with nice hands. And Corey’s big, strong hands made her insides quiver. They looked quite capable, and her stomach twirled when she imagined what they might feel like caressing her naked skin.
