‘That’s not what I asked. What doyouwant to do?’
‘No idea. I want to do something that makes a difference.’
‘It would suit you. You saved me,’ he says. The sincerity in his voice makes me reach out and thread my fingers into his, grazing a thumb over the black tattoos. I worry he’ll pull away, until he tugs me closer, settling me beside him. He’s so warm against my side that I can’t help but snuggle in.
‘What about you?’
‘I haven’t thought past keeping you safe.’
‘That’s not a career.’
‘Wanna bet?’
I look up into those soulful eyes and melt a littlemore. ‘What about after? When we find out who knows about me?’
He takes a deep breath and places his hands on my thigh. ‘My foster mother used to say that the boys who came through her door had spent so long in survival mode that they’d never learned to dream. I’m still working on it.’
‘What do you have so far?’
The painted hearts tilt my way.
‘You. Finding you is the only dream I’ve ever had.’
‘Tell me about her,’ I say. ‘Your foster mother. What’s she like?’
‘She’s tiny and a bit terrifying. But she cares deeply. And mostly shows it through feeding us until we’re ready to burst. She loves making all my favourite foods when I go home and sneaks into my flat to leave me casseroles. I think she believes I might starve if she doesn’t feed me. After so long with no one asking, or caring, about my favourite foods, it’s nice to feel noticed.’
‘She sounds sweet.’
‘She is. In her way. But she doesn’t take any shit either. She didn’t let me mope or hide away. From the day I arrived, she folded me into family life and taught me how to accept being a part of it.’
‘Did that help?’ I ask. I’ve only ever closely known my own family; I can’t imagine being thrust into a new one and havingto fit.
‘I had ups and downs. I didn’t really know how to interact with people who didn’t want something from me.’ He looks at his hands. ‘But bar the occasional chore, she’s never demanded anything. She always tries to give rather than take.’
‘She sounds great,’ I say.
‘She encouraged me to learn to cook and clean. Said no woman wants a man she has to mother.’
‘She’s not wrong.’
He laughs, and the sound warms me through. I love to hear him happy, knowing how much darkness he’s experienced.
‘Did she teach you to paint your own mask and stalk women outside windows?’
‘Oh no, that’s all inspired by needing to be near you.’
‘I should probably be afraid of you.’ I say.
‘If anyone should be afraid, it’s me. I saw how you whipped into that alley with a kitchen knife.’ He squeezes my thigh as he says it.
‘Because I was terrified.’
‘You looked pretty hot with the vigilante fairy vibe you had going on.’
‘Shut up.’ I nudge him in the ribs while I laugh, realising how comfortable it feels to be here with him, despite my usually keeping men at an arm’s distance. Even when I’m seeing them.
Sleep drags at the edges of my vision, itching as the clock ticks past midnight. We’ve shifted position a handful of times, and now I lie with my head in Heart Eye’s lap, his fingers toying with my hair. It sends little waves of pleasure rippling down my spine. Good lord, I’m in heaven, but it’s hard to avoid drifting off.
