Starcrossed (Starcrossed 1)

blankets, mummified in miserable chastity, allowing her to hold,

but not fully embrace him.

?Do you care for me? More than just in a life or death ?we need to

stop the Hundred Cousins from starting a war with the gods? type

of way?? she asked flippantly.

She knew that on some level she was being petty and insecure,

but she needed to know how he felt about her. He propped himself

up on his elbows so he could see her more clearly and so that she

could see him back.

?Of course I care for you,? he said intently. ?The only thing I

wouldn?t do to be with you is cause innocent people to die. And

that?s pretty much it.? He moved on to his back again, jabbing a

hand in his hair. ?But apparently that?s enough.?

Helen knew there was a lot more behind what he was saying than

he was letting on, but she couldn?t bear to ask any questions that

might have awful answers. She?d had enough awful for one day.

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She rolled on top of him and tu

cked herself into that spot on his

chest that she was convinced still held a Helen-shaped dent in it.

?Just so you know? Just so we?re clear. I care about you, too. And

if this hug is all I can have, I?d prefer it over anything else from

anyone else.?

?That?s because you?ve never been with a man,? Luke said as he

kissed the bit of skin on her forehead that was just about to be hair.

?Now go to sleep,? he ordered.

Helen would have argued, but she was too damn tired from fighting

for her life twice in one day to do more than blink contrarily.

Lucas?s arms wove a safe basket around her mending heart and she

relaxed completely into him. She listened to the particular resonance