Page 24 of Bed of Thorns

He pulled back even more, yanking off my tee shirt and tossing it aside. The look on his face remaining carnal, he jerked at his sweatshirt, pulling it off from behind his neck, exposing his broad chest. The man was a feast for the eyes, and I allowed my gaze to fall from his chiseled jaw to the first hint of the deep V shifting underneath his jeans. He was a creation of beauty, a marvel of a man, perfect yet flawed.

Structured yet broken.

The light in his eyes was luminescent, twinkling as he leaned down, planting his hands on either side of me. The dimness of the light the night before had provided some level of covering, allowing me the ability to hide behind the shadows. Now he could see all of me. As he drank me in, his breathing became more labored, his entire body shaking from a rush of adrenaline.

A warm flush crept up from my neck like vines growing slowly, threatening to take over. My ears were ringing from the dense beating of my heart, embarrassment rushing through me. He took several deep breaths, every exhale a low, husky, and very sensual growl.

I couldn’t stop quivering, my mind reeling. I wanted to shut it off, not to think about what was right or good, but just to be in the minute. No one was here. No one to bother us, to chastise what we were sharing. Just two people who grew more desperate for each other as the connection became unavoidable. He was my drug and I was his, junkies who could never again be without their fix.

“Perfect in every way,” he muttered as he flexed the fingers on one hand open, brushing the rough pads down from my forehead, crawling a centimeter at a time as he memorized every line in my face, every slight blemish, his expression alternating between admiration and near lack of control. He wasn’t a man I could say no to.

Not that I would.

He started to hum a tune, something I didn’t recognize, but the sound was soothing even though his deep, melodic baritone made every beat sound haunting. I closed my eyes as he continued his exploration, concentrating on the beautiful sound, the mesmerizing moment. He’d already become my addiction. Could I give myself to him, if only for a little while? In order to help him find his way? Could I give him solace, peace of mind? Would I ultimately soothe his beast?

And more important: Would I ever find the strength to walk away?

“Look at me, Mercedes. Look into my eyes.”

He cupped both sides of my face, his hold more of a sweet caress, yet I knew I wasn’t going anywhere unless he allowed it. I was his special captured bird, the single creature he’d been pining away for.

But which one of us was now in a cage?

I obeyed him, if for no other reason that his commanding voice was as intoxicating as the man.

“What do you see?”

Why did the four little words resonate in an entirely different way? This single moment wasn’t about passion, anger, or supposed betrayal.

This was all about forgiveness.

“An honorable man.”

CHAPTER7

Edmond

Exhilaration.

Rage.

Passion.

Hatred.

They continued to ebb and flow in me, the darkness I’d experienced for so many years constantly threatening to drag me back to hell, into the lapping fire that I likely deserved. Was this any different? Did I deserve to have such a beautiful woman in my arms?

All the feelings of betrayal were past, the need to have her pay a huge penance for the lie and the deceit fleeting in my mind. The burning need left me incapable of accepting anything less than having her by my side, indulging in the kind of passion reserved for true love. Was this love or simply infatuation, the darkness of obsession? It no longer mattered. One taste of her had been just the beginning.

What I wanted was much more.

I needed everything, all of her. Nothing else was acceptable.

I’d studied her during the night, easing off the bed only after she’d fallen into a deep sleep. Then I’d watched her as I sat on the chair near her desk, finding it impossible to take my eyes off her until the first rays of color blanketed the sky with soft hues, a warm glow flowing through the blinds. I’d wanted nothing more than to awaken her, taking her time and time again, but I’d felt paralyzed, the realization that I’d broken the barrier between us weighing heavily on my mind.

I craved her loyalty and needed her trust, but I wasn’t certain even after she’d issued the very words that I’d longed to hear that it was possible. How could she trust a man like me? I was nothing like the young man I’d been. What eagerness I felt was all about crushing the people responsible for ending my life. She deserved so much better.

Mercedes didn’t move as I stepped back, removing the rest of my clothes. When I pulled my belt into my hand, sliding the thick leather between my fingers, her breath caught. I would punish her if only to satisfy the anger still dwelling in the pits of my soul. But not now. I hadn’t been prepared for the fact that she was a virgin. The realization had nearly gutted me.

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