She pulled her head from his shoulder. “Or they care for you and don’t want to dredge up past pain.”
He snorted, attempting to look away. She wrenched her arm from between their bodies and brought her hand to his face, forcing him to look at her.
“You told me not to be afraid to talk to you. That there was nothing I could say to make you think any less of me. Well, I’m saying the same to you now. You are myfriend, Tristan.” She stroked her thumb along his cheek. “And I have precious few of them. I’m not about to let one go, even if they’re a little damaged. Beggars can’t be choosers.”
His rumbling chuckle warmed her insides. He pinched her hip and she released a tiny squeak. She’d take the teasing, the flirting—as much as it tortured her—over the pain in his eyes any day.
“Iwantto tell you, Cassandra,” he said, placing his hand over her own at his cheek. “I just…”
“Take all the time you need. I told you, I’m not going anywhere.”
He blew a shuddering breath through pursed lips, then rose out of his chair and settled her on her feet.
The wet towel slapped to the floor, exposing her left breast through the now-transparent fabric of her night-shirt.
She did nothing to hide it.
“What is it with you and white fabric?” he murmured, transfixed. “You might as well just walk around here naked.”
Incredulous, she gestured to his bare chest.
“You’re the one who backed out of our agreement,ex-playmate.I never promised to make it easy for you.”
Her chest loosened.Therewas her playful, irreverent friend.
How could she possibly convey the jumbled scope of her feelings for him? She wanted him more than reason would suggest was wise, but was terrified of the consequences. Consequences which had only grown more dire given his notoriety.
The agreement they’d made before she’d abandoned the order—to play together, explore together—seemed safer then. Like the limitations placed upon them by her chastity vow would keep her fragile heart protected.
And now, for the first time in her life, she had full control over her choices, had won the independence she’d so desperately longed for. She didn’t yet know how to handle this glorious, terrifying new freedom.
She placed her hands on his chest, savoring the hard perfection beneath her fingertips, and he groaned softly.
She’d do everything in her power to ensure that light, that mischief, stayed in his eyes.
Without destroying herself in the process.
“You’re definitely not making it easy. I must be a glutton for punishment, agreeing to come stay with you.”
She stepped around him, intending to head back to her room despite her suspicion that sleep would be a long time coming.
He grabbed her wrist, halting her, and gazed from underneath his long, dark eyelashes. “Will you stay with me a little longer, Cass?”
His vulnerability awakened something primal within her—an urge to nurture, to soothe. Along with such a blinding wave of desire to wrap him in her arms, take him inside of her, and turn his grief into pleasure that she almost swooned.
She nodded, afraid of what she might say if she dared open her mouth.
He dragged her to the couch and plopped onto the cushions, angling his wings over the back before patting the space beside him.
She sat down and he curled an arm around her shoulder, nudging her to lay her head on the pillow he placed in his lap.
She stiffened, cocking a questioning eyebrow.
He grinned and shook his head. “No devious intentions. Can I just…rub your head?”
“After everything you’ve been through today, you want to givemea head massage? Shouldn’t I be doing that foryou?”
“It comforts me to touch you.”
