Just then, something whizzed by my shoulder. I tracked its path, watching the object embed itself into the charred pillow top. My head snapped in the direction the knife had come from, and I found Nitro stepping out of the shadows, spinning a second blade around his finger.
“Fuck happened to that?” he asked, nodding at the mattress.
“Asher,” I replied tersely. No further explanation was needed.
“Been a while,” Nitro said, his demeanor suddenly serious. “Something triggered him.”
I nodded.
Without a doubt, thatsomethingwas Lucy.
I spentthe night drinking until I passed out on the sofa. Before dawn the next morning, hangover in full force, I left the compound and headed straight for the nearest place I thought might have something passable for a bed—an outdoor recreational store about five blocks away.
After paying fifty bucks for a rickety folding cot, no frills, I returned. The makeshift bed went straight to the bedroom that reeked of blackened wood and smoke, then I went to my room. I’d kick her out and dump her back into the fire-ravaged space where she belonged.
My room where Lucy was still sleeping… in my bed… against my sheets… under my comforter.
Her head was tilted to one side, downy pale hair falling over her face. She looked so peaceful.
My entire room smelled of her; she’d permeated every surface. Just being in the room made my head fog and my body buzz with insatiable need. Without meaning to, I advanced towards her. It wasn’t until my legs pressed against the mattress that I came to my senses. Still, I reached my hand out, fingers aching to push the platinum hair away from her pretty face. Ionly had to move a few centimeters further. I knew her skin was incredibly soft.
Baser needs took over, drowning out any rational thought.
I deleted the tiny distance between us, letting my fingertips gently gather the out-of-place strands. I pushed them to the side, fully revealing her delicate features. Fuck, had Ireallynever seen another woman as beautiful as Lucy?
No, was my brain’s resounding, confident answer.
The next thing that ran through my brain was,If she stays, we’ll ruin that beauty. We ruin everything.
We had to double-down our efforts to make her miserable. Asher’s murderous act last night was just the appetizer. The main course needed to be far, far worse.
I realized then that my fingertips still lightly rested against the side of Lucy’s face. Despite myself, I cupped her cheek, longing for a firmer connection. My hand looked enormous next to her tininess, bottom of my palm lined up with the base of her chin, fingers able to curl around the top of her head.
She subconsciously turned into my touch, letting out a soft sigh.
And my world stopped.
My heart slammed against my ribcage, so loud I knew it would wake Lucy.
I shouldn’t be here.
I shouldn’t hover over her like a predator while she’s sleeping.
All the ‘should nots’ rained down on me, slumping my shoulders beneath their weight.
But as I felt her warmth against my palm, my resolve truly began to crumble. No, I didn’t want to ruin her. I’d also rather ruin her than let someone else have her in this stunning form, all liquid metal hair and snow-kissed skin.
No, I quickly pulled away from her, stepping back until my body hit the dresser. What the hell was I doing? I had no right to be drawn to her, and even less right to wreck her chances at a happy future.
A flash of white-hot anger shot through me. It was Eros, I decided. They’d done something to Lucy to make her irresistible.
She was their tool.
Somehow soaked in the perfect Omega perfume to make my Alpha nature spiral.
Somehow molded in a lab to make the sight of her undo me.
Somehow trained to keep us hooked on every bit of her—the quiet strength, the loud defiance, the innocent nature.
