Burn (Virtues & Lies 1)

Toby continues grumbling as Leo takes me through the walk-in closet. It’s just as minimal as the bedroom. The wardrobes are mirrored and the island in the middle is a large walnut piece that sits on the cream carpet.

The place barely looks lived in. It’s that clean and tidy. Nothing’s on show. I suspect everything is tucked away somewhere in a Ziploc bag or labelled in some way.

Hmm, he’s a neat freak.

My thoughts stumble and go all crazy when he plops me on the counter of the bathroom. Reaching to the side he turns the water on and taking his time he looks me over. The grimace on his face makes me look away because that’s not how I want him to look at me. I want him to see me in the same way as when we were dancing, and I could feel his desire from the way his eyes were locked on mine. Wanting more like me, not holding back like he is now. Searching me for cuts, bruises, and all the things that could be wrong.

I can’t watch him watching me like that. Instead I take in the surroundings, the square tub is sunken into the matte white granite floor of the large wet room. The brushed brass shower handles and the glass partition between the shower and the tub have no watermarks. The massive shower head that’s integrated into the ceiling is big enough to shower a whole football team at once.

Still, I can’t ignore him for long, my gaze finds his and before I can stop the surge of emotion erupting, it fills my eyes and pushes from my lips in a sob that aches. My heart is racing as his breathing hastens, his hands cup my face and the soothing strokes of his thumbs along my cheeks do nothing to stop the burning tears or ease my hurting heart.

“It’s going to be okay, my beautiful girl.” Leaning down, he brushes my matted hair back. With his face so very close to mine and his fingers twirling my hair gently, it really does feel like it will be, but after tonight, I don’t know if it’s possible, because like he said, I’m a target.

“Until the next time.”

There’s a silent pause where he’s taking me in, like this is the last time he’ll ever see me or he’s trying to figure out what to say to make this better.

“There won’t be a next time.”

“Big motherfucking bullseye, remember?”

“You listen to me. I won’t let any fucker near you.”

“Leo.”

“What, Cassie?” Tightening on my jaw, his grasp betrays his anguish. “I mean it—nobody touches you but me.”

Nodding, I close my eyes when his forehead meets mine. I don’t want to argue with him, even if I know that his words aren’t promises he can keep, right now, I want to allow myself to believe them.

“What happens now?”

“You let me look after you. Let me care for you…”

I open my eyes and when he sucks his lower lip into his mouth, I can’t help but do the same, if only to stop the flutters in my tummy from turning into an all-out groan.

He’s so good-looking, it’s heart-stopping. Leo’s also good at manipulating situations into what he wants. I can’t let that happen here.

“That’s not what I meant. What happens now? To you? To me? To everyone…that man…you…” My voice is a gravelly whisper that has my breath pushing out of me all at once.

“Your father and Casper are handling it. It’s what they do.”

“What they do?”

“It’s the reason we’re here…them. Me. They protect people. They clean up messes no one wants to be seen near.” His chest is heaving, even with the layers of clothes I can see the deep rise and fall of it. The way his nostrils flare with every breath is making my chest tighten with conflicting needs and wants.

This is all so much to take in and all I can think is that I want more of everything…knowledge, Leo…everything.

Trailing his fingertips down my neck he takes a step back with a longing sigh. “Let’s clean you up, Buttercup.”

Waiting until I give him a nod of approval he reaches for a washcloth and wets it before pulling my father’s coat open. My blood throbs up to my face when he lowers his stubbled chin, the tip of his nose skimming the bridge of mine, as he parts my legs and stands between them.

“This is going to hurt.” He lightly sweeps the washcloth over the top of my thigh. “It’s not deep, just a nasty graze.”

“It doesn’t hurt.” Not the way I expected it too. Maybe I’m still numb from shock and overwhelmed by everything that’s happened tonight.

“Good.”

Leo carries on dabbing at the inside of my thigh and then my knees. His beautiful face twists with concentration as he keeps cleaning my injuries and rinsing the cloth.