Page 50 of Wicked Healing

They stood there on the front porch for several minutes, just leaning into each other. Erin loved having him so close and she refused to be the first one to move away, this time. But rather than let her go Luca wrapped her into a hug. Erin’s heart raced as she wrapped both arms around his waist, resting her head on his solid chest.

“You know,” he said softly, his deep voice making his chest rumble beneath her ear. “I don’t like holding you at arm’s length. I want to draw you in and breathe you in and make you mine.”

Erin could have melted right there in his arms, and not because of the heat of the day. “I want that, too,” she admitted, afraid all over again as she lifted her head to breathe against his throat. It had hurt when he’d shut her down so hard two weeks ago and she didn’t want to go through that again, but she couldn’t deny her need for him either.

A shudder wracked his body as her breath feathered over the skin of his neck. She hadn’t realized it but she was on his damaged side, not that it bothered her. The skin was a mottled pink but it didn’t look painful. Something must have triggered a reaction, though.

Moving her head the tiniest bit she pressed a kiss against the skin of his neck, her lips barely brushing. Luca drew in a deep breath, then another, quicker, and his arms tightened around her.

“Fuck, you’re going to kill me,” he growled, moving to find her mouth. Erin lifted her head the tiniest bit in encouragement and he took her lips in a long, delicious kiss. She held onto his neck and shoulders, hoping she didn’t hurt him in some way.

Luca felt bulletproof. The work he’d been doing on the ranch had paid off in sculpted muscles and unrelenting strength. For a second Erin wanted to just step back and admire, but that would be a little awkward. Instead she ran her hands down his chest, then back up to hold his jaw as he kissed her.

Luca seemed taken aback at how good it was, kissing her. When he pulled back enough to look down into her face, his eyes were even darker than normal, his pupils almost completely swallowing the deep brown of the iris, in spite of the daylight. That wasn’t the only response his body was giving her, as she could feel through the thin fabric of the nylon exercise shorts he preferred. She didn’t press, even as much as she wanted to explore that hardness.

Erin had had her fair share of relationships but none of them had ever developed into anything substantial. Short term liaisons with decent men but the pieces had just never fallen together like they were supposed to. The dogs and other boarders kept her busy and for the most part she was okay with being alone. Only occasionally did she ache for someone to hold her, usually after a pointed conversation with her mother on the state of her social life.

Luca felt different, though. Very different. They had a few bedrock things that they were passionate about, but the rest of the differences made him more interesting to her, not less. As soon as she’d spent a few hours with him, Erin had known that this guy could be dangerous to her heart. When he’d distanced himself she’d been okay with it, because it had removed a huge source of uncertainty from her. She’d tried to convince herself that he was too good for her anyway.

Now he was teasing her with this little glimpse of bliss.

When they drew back to catch their breath, she looked up at him, her eyes direct. “If you try to distance yourself after this I might have to murder you.”

Luca laughed, dragging her into another hug. “I’ll try not to make you murder me,” he told her, kissing her softly on the temple. “Let’s get out of this heat,” he suggested.

That was fine by her. They also needed to let the dogs in. Even in the shaded back yard with the coolness of the trees around, it could still be too hot for the animals outside. That was why she tried to make sure that every animal had a way to cool off and get out of the heat.

The dogs were more than happy to come inside, barking happily at Wicked and Sophie. It was a bit of a melee for a while until everyone settled down.

Erin made the humans sandwiches, which Luca appreciated. The entire time she moved, though, she could feel the weight of his gaze resting on her.

“I didn’t plan on kissing you,” he said finally. She paused as she wiped her mouth, glancing at him.

“I know. Do you regret it?”

“Hell, no!” He scowled at her. “I only regret that it took me so long to do it again.”

She grinned slightly. “This is not a normal situation. I understand that. And I’m willing to wait until you’re ready to move forward. This may sound presumptuous and I’m seriously going out on a limb here, but I’m looking forward to being in a relationship with you, Luca. I think you’re a good man who’s been knocked around by life but that hasn’t stopped you from living. You’re going to do great things. I know you will.”

If his face was anything to go by she’d shocked the crap out of him. And then, in spite of their half-finished lunches he leaned over and gave her a devastating kiss. By the time he pulled back she was slick between her legs and ready to do damn near anything to be back in his arms.

“I’m not going to lie, Erin, you’re like a drug to me. Even when I didn’t want to let you in you managed to keep drawing me back. There are things you haven’t seen yet that I’m scared to death will frighten you away for good.”

“Impossible,” she told him firmly, one eyebrow lifted.

He gave her a thoughtful smile. “I’m not sure why but I think I believe you.”

“I’ve never lied to you, Luca. Not ever. None of your scars bother me. They only worry me because of lingering pain you might feel.” Deliberately she rested her left hand on his disfigured right bicep, and leaned up to kiss his burned cheek, as gentle as a butterfly.

“They don’t hurt. Well, those ones don’t mostly. My leg hurts sometimes if I’ve trained too long. The musculature is changed.”

She nodded, understanding. “You can show me anything. You can tell me anything. I’m not going to turn on you because I find you lacking in some way.”

A sudden grin split his lips. “I’m not lacking in the way that matters,” he promised her.

Erin burst out laughing. “You’re such a dude.”

The laughter faded away as his gaze focused on her face. Cupping her face in his hands he stroked his thumbs along her jaw, then brushed one over her lips. She stroked the tip of her tongue over the pad of his thumb and he startled. Then, with a vulnerable intensity in his gaze, he leaned in to kiss her again, this time more deliberate.

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