Page 55 of Taming
“I hate people. I’m not good at trusting them. Especially women. I’ve felt the start of a mating bond once and it … she fucked me over.” His attention is on the ground between us as he says it, far, far away from my curious gaze.
Huh. He’s just like me.
A strange sort of anger fumes through me at whoever the woman was who hurt him.
He shifts his weight, pulling his attention from the dirt to meet my gaze.
“My point is we’re all fucked up, Arlow. But those flaws don’t get to decide who we are. You’re powerful. I know it. I’ve seen it.” A pause drifts between his words. “I feel it.” Energy swirls through my chest at the sound of his appraisal. In just two short steps, he’s close enough to touch. So close that his fingers drift across the back of my knuckles, not holding my hand but just lightly skimming against my skin. Making me crazy with the fluttering feeling within my stomach. “Let me help you.”
The sincerity of his voice sinks right into me. It’s all I feel strumming through my veins.
He really thinks he could help me?
The warm sound of his voice makes me realize I trust them all too much.
Because I want nothing more in the world than for him to help me.
Even if I know it’s a terrible idea for two emotionally broken people.
Chapter Nineteen
Personal Space
“You know you’re wasting them, right?” Aggie’s voice is conspiratorial sound.
With a wave of her hand, she provides me with a new pair of clothes almost identical to the swaying skirt and shirt I always wear. Her bedroom is a darker space, but just as cluttered as her living room. Stacks of old newspapers stand taller than me in the corner, and I eye it with a worried look as it teeters but doesn’t fall.
“I just think if there are three very muscular men in your life, you should take advantage of your good fortune. The Goddess has clearly blessed you for a good deed.”
A good deed. Not likely, Aggie.
“Have you even felt number three’s arms? Good Goddess, what is he lifting with those arms? Mmm imagine what he’s lifting, Low. Imagine it.”
My eyes close slowly as I realize she’s numbered them based off of who she felt up during her line up.
Number three; I do a quick recap. Number three is Kain.
“Oh, the things I would do to those men if my bad hip was twenty years younger. I should have taken better care of that damn hip.”
A smile pulls at my lips.
“I’m going to take a shower.” She needs a cold shower too, I think, but I’m not going to mention it.
As I step past her, her thin hand slips around mine. It’s a light touch, a gentle touch, and I think it’s the first time we’ve ever touched actually.
“Really though. I—I think they want to help you. Let them help you, Low.” She hesitates for only a moment, perhaps testing me to see if I’ll agree. When I don’t, she continues. “Not all men are bad. I promise; some are so loyal, so loving, so irreplaceable.”
Her odd words linger in the silence.
Sometimes, I think Aggie is wise.
And, sometimes, I think she’s shut herself away here for so long she’s forgotten what the real world is like.
I envy her for that.
The real world is shit. I’ll let her live in that pleasant fairytale for the rest of her life.
“I’m sorry for bringing you into this.” My whispered words make her silver brows pull together.
