She stepped into him, laid both hands on his cheeks. Ian flinched and started to pull back, but she didn’t let him. “You’re conscious. You’re in control. You won’t hurt me.” She focused on projecting that feeling of confidence and safety. “I can’t change what’s been done, but I can tell you that I trust you like I’ve never trusted anyone, ever. I just needed you to know that.”
Worry still carved lines around his mouth, but he didn’t pull away. “I need to check…to make sure…”
“Go ahead.”
The hand Ian lifted to her nape was anything but clinical. His fingers slid beneath the fall of her hair, and Marley trembled. She hoped he could sense it wasn’t in fear. She held herself motionless, still cradling his face as his fingers warmed a path down her spine. His eyes shifted to that unearthly silver. It should’ve been frightening. Marley found it beautiful.
His focus was a physical thing. A touch she felt on every inch of her skin, though his eyes didn’t leave hers. For those long minutes, she felt as if she was the center of his world.
Ian dropped his temple to hers and let out a slow breath she took to mean relief. “I don’t understand it. You shouldn’t be fine.”
“Gift horse,” she murmured.
She expected him to step away. But Ian stayed where he was, his free hand drifting up to curve around her hip.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured.
“For what?” Her voice sounded breathless to her own ears, her skin still humming from his touch on her back, from the feel of his fingers at her hip.
“For letting myself get that bad, to the point I couldn’t protect you. For putting you in a position to have to risk yourself for me. For not properly thanking you for the gift you’ve given me. For taking advantage of you when you were only trying to help. Pick one.”
“I’ll take your apology for all but the last. On that score, I’d say the taking advantage was fairly mutual. In case you missed it, I was a very willing participant.”
“I was rough.” So was his voice.
“I wasn’t complaining,” she whispered.
He lifted a hand back to her nape, tipping her forward to close the small distance between them. His lips brushed hers in a soft, drugging kiss. Marley sank into him, sliding her fingers into his hair. His body shuddered against her, but he kept his mouth easy, his hold gentle, as if she were fragile, precious. The effect was all the more potent, knowing the hunger he held in check. Marley felt something inside her crack open and yearn toward him, fresh heat kindling low in her belly.
Ian eased back, his breath unsteady.
“Which was that?” she asked. “The thank you or the apology?”
He laughed a little. “Maybe some of both.”
“Then you’re welcome and apology accepted.”
The corners of his mouth curved, a slow smile to match the deep molasses shade of his eyes. She’d wondered once, how he’d look if he ever truly smiled, and now she could safely say it was another form of weapon, as dangerous as his other gifts. An irresistible invitation to join him in the fun. Or in bed. The sight cut her legs straight out from under her.
“I’ve been around a long time.” He threaded his hand in her hair. “With all I’ve seen, all I’ve done, almost nothing surprises me anymore. But you do.”
“Is that a good thing?” she asked.
“A very good thing. Deciding to rescue you was the best dumb decision I’ve ever made.”
“Deciding to let you might be mine.”
She wanted to bask in this unexpected connection. But there was no time. He needed to know the rest. Easing away from him, she reached for her sketchbook and a pencil.
“Before Matthias left, he gave me these coordinates. Whatever’s there relates to the truth about who I am. He said he was repaying a debt, but I don’t see how he fits into all of this.”
Ian frowned. “He was following you that night.”
“What?”
“The night before you saw the Nix, I caught him tailing you. He played it off, said he was looking for me, which, given I was also tailing you, made more sense.”
Surprise had her staring. “You were tailing me?”