“Elaine,” he said in a low, quiet voice.
“It’s fine…” I tried to protest.
“Thank you.” His words came as a surprise, forcing me to meet his gaze again.
“For what?” I muttered, confused.
“For your offer. Your joy is precious. To me, it’s priceless. And I…” He rolled back his shoulders, his hands roaming up and down my back again. His touch was no longer gentle. It was firm, possessive. “Believe me, I’d give my life, whatever is left of it, for just a taste.” His low voice turned into a growl as he dragged his mouth over the side of my neck.
His lips parted. The scrape of his fangs over my skin sent a shiver down my spine. It was a shiver of both apprehension and thrill. I stiffened, unsure which one of these two feelings I should give into.
“But it’s no longer aboutmylife.” With a heavy, body-shuddering breath, he rested his forehead on my shoulder. “I can’t afford your pleasure, my sweet.”
“I won’t charge.” I smiled, raising my hands to his head.
The hood was in the way, and I was so tired of it. This old, worn cloak was almost all I ever saw of Timur, and right now, I just wanted to see the real him.
I tugged on the hood. He tensed but didn’t stop me from pulling it off. The silky mass of his long hair spilled over his wide shoulders like black ink streaked with white. The bone mask over his face, one that could never be removed, pressed into my shoulder. He wouldn’t look at me.
I ran my hands through his hair, caressing his skull the way he caressed my skin.
“You make me feel safe, protected, appreciated,” I murmured. “These are your emotions, Timur, as much as they’re mine. Without you, I’d be…”
Where would I be if he didn’t buy me at that auction? I’d be at the mercy either of the man who tossed people from the Wall orof the woman who charged the injured for the time it took them to recover on her beach.
“I never thought I’d say it, but I’m glad you bought me. You and not someone else.”
Finally, he lifted his head.
I brushed his hair away from his eyes, both the serene blue and the glowing red one. A tendril of apprehension lingered in my chest. I didn’t get to see him without the hood very often. But maybe I should? Maybe he should stop hiding. For better or for worse, this shack was his home, the only home he had now. It should be his safe place to be himself.
I unclipped his cloak. “It’s hot in here. You don’t have to wear it inside.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, doubtful. “From this close, you’ll see it all, all my deformities.”
“I’ll seeyou,” I said, lifting his cloak from the spikes on his right shoulder. “And the more I’ll look at you, the more I’ll get used to it.”
I didn’t want to lie to him by saying his appearance didn’t bother me. It was unnerving to see the exposed bone merged with the breathing, living flesh. But both parts were him, and I was no longer afraid of or repulsed by him.
“I need to see you, Timur. I need to connect in my mind what I see with everything I feel for you. Your face, your appearance, your behavior, and your actions all belong to one person. I need to learn to like your face the way I already like the rest of you.”
I shifted in his lap into a more comfortable position, inadvertently rubbing my ass against his hard thighs. A strangled groan left his lip, making me worry.
“Did I hurt your legs?” I scrambled from his lap as quickly and carefully as I could.
“No. Not the legs…” He drew in a breath, looking like he was trying to get it under control. “It’s…It doesn’t matter. Anyway, I got something for you.”
I tilted my head. “For me? What is it?”
“A present.” A corner of his mouth lifted in a half-grin as if he was already anticipating my joy from it.
“You bought me a present? But Timur.” I shook my head. “We can’t keep spending money when we have a debt to pay.”
He’d already bought me a piece of soap, which I admitted was necessary, and a bucket to wash my clothes in. He also had to buy me food and water between my paid dinners, and water wasn’t cheap in Ashgate because Ray was a greedy asshole who charged a lot.
“You need to be comfortable,” he argued, pulling out a colorful, fluffy bundle from his worn satchel.
It looked soft and fluffy.
