“What?”
“Touched me.” She swallows, the sound echoing around us. “Is it because someone else already has? Or do you not want me like that?” Her face pales. “Or maybe I’ve read things wrong and—”
“Lily—”
“I don’t know why I’m asking this, I just thought a man like you would—”
“A man like me?” I ask, my voice deeper as I push myself off her before standing up and holding my hand out for her.
“Yeah… I…” She places her hand into mine and I pull her into a standing position. “All big and broody… and… ugh.” She covers her face with her hands. “What am I saying?”
I chuckle at her awkwardness before taking her hands from her face and pushing my fingers between hers. “I got no idea, darlin’.”
“Just… forget it.”
“No.” I shake my head. “You can talk to me about anything.” Leading her back up the stairs, I wait until we’re back in our room, before saying, “You got something on your mind, you say it.”
Sitting on the end of the bed, she stands in front of me, looking anywhere but at me as she says, “I thought you’d want sex.”
My eyes widen, a surprised laugh and cough coming out at the same time. “What?”
“I mean, I know you only married me to get me away from my dad, but I thought maybe we could try and be like… erm… together?”
“Okay. One.” I pull on her hand and bring her between my legs. “I may have married you to keep you safe, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like you like that.” She looks down at me and I wrap my arms around her waist. “And the first time we sleep together—and we will by the way—you won’t have anything on your mind but me and you.” I pause. “You’re not ready, angel. And that’s okay.”
“It is?” she whispers, her voice raw with emotion.
“It is,” I confirm.
She stares down at me as I keep my gaze focused on her, telling her it doesn’t matter how long it takes for her to heal, I’m here no matter what.
“So, we’re going to be open with each other?” she asks. Tilting my head, she must see the confusion because she adds, “You said I can talk to you about anything… but it’s the same for you, Luke.” She threads her hand through my hair. “You know that, right?” I swallow, not knowing what to say so instead I nod. “Do you want to talk about it?” she asks, her voice soft.
“Talk about what?”
“The nightmares you’ve been having.”
My heart thumps in my chest, my palms sweating as I let her go. She steps back, a frown on her face as I stand up and walk to the bathroom.
“I’ve got to work out before today’s meeting.”
“Luke—”
“You should get some more sleep,” I tell her, not looking back as I walk into the bathroom and shut the door behind me.
LUKE
“Kitty?” Ty asks, going around each of us to catch him up on the jobs we’re working. “How’s the intel coming?”
“Good.” She slides a folder over to him. “I got some pics, but I think I need an extra pair of hands to investigate him more.”
Ty stays silent as he opens the folder and scans through the photos. “Okay. Dean can go with you. Go inside, ask some stuff but don’t be obvious.”
“Actually.” Kitty’s gaze settles on me. “I was thinking Luke could come with me. He always has this sense of things and I could use it on this case.”
Ty’s attention turns to me, a silent question in his eyes, and when I nod, he says, “Take Luke.” He leans back in his seat. “Dean? I need you on this job.”
He pushes another folder across the table. “What is it?”