Page 16 of Hidden Pain

“Talk to me,” she repeated.

“My life was so different a short time ago. I had a flourishing business, and I loved my work. I knew of the existence of shifters, but I didn’t have any interaction with them, because Zain had taken himself out of Isobel’s life. It’s all changed so much. I was brought into this by my father, not by choice, and now my entire life has been altered...I’m living in Kansas with a pack of wolves and a bear, and I can’t do what I love anymore. It’s slowly destroying me inside.”

Lily reached out her hand and stroked the area where Kingsley had lost his finger.

“Tattoo art?” she asked.

“Yes,” he replied weakly. “I can’t even hold a pencil properly anymore.”

Guilt weighed heavily on Lily’s shoulders. If she hadn’t followed Nuka’s orders and shown Selene’s abilities to the humans, then maybe Kingsley would still have his finger. It had been the catalyst that led to his father implementing his catastrophic plan.

“I’m sorry.” It was her turn to bow her head—her voice was weak, breaking with the guilt flooding her body. “If I hadn’t listened to Nuka, everything would be so different. You’d be back home in Montana, making beautiful artwork.”

Kingsley let out a loud breath and wrapped his arms around her.

“It’s not your fault. We don’t know what would’ve happened. Fate might have forced my father’s hand in another way. Nuka played on all our weaknesses and got what he wanted. He did the same to my father. Now my father’s dead, and I’m not sad about it. Nuka Lincoln is an evil man—his twin is the good one. Kas believes in a future where shifters and humans can exist in peace together. One where we can all help each other by sitting down together and talking like we are now.”

Kingsley placed his hand under her chin and lifted her head up, so they were looking directly at each other. “We’ve both suffered because of this war. It’s destroyed so many already. I never fully believed Kas’ words until this moment. But to hear you blame yourself for what happened to me demonstrates the compassion he’s spoken about, which can be found in good people on both sides. They’re the ones who need to come to the top and win the war. I just hope they can.”

Lily held her breath the entire time Kingsley spoke. His words were peeling away at the layers of hatred beaten into her over the years. She exhaled on a deep breath.

“We’re the good ones. Misguided previously, but we are the good ones. Kas is right. I believe him too. We’ll win the war and come together. Humans and shifters together,” Lily insisted.

Kingsley nodded, and they both fell silent. The tension in the air around them transformed from one of anguish to heated lust. She wanted him…a human. She wanted to join with him and be a better person. She wanted to change her path from hatred and revenge to kindness and possibly love. Kingsley must have felt the same because he pressed his lips to hers. Sparks ignited in her body. Sex was always about pleasing Nuka before, but this was different. She wanted this with her last breath on Earth. She’d give everything to have this moment with Kingsley.

“Take me,” she murmured breathlessly to the human.

“Lily.” He shook his head. “We said you didn’t have to do this. It’s not what we expect.”

“I know, but it’s what I want. I need to feel you inside me, showing me how good life can be. I know you care about me. Please, I think we both need to get lost in the moment and forget who we are. Just become one.”

Kingsley leaned forward and tenderly pressed his lips against hers once again. His were soft but masculine at the same time. The facial hair he’d grown during the day, tickled at her lips and coaxed a lust-filled moan from her into his mouth.

“Lily,” he groaned and moved them, so they could continue to explore each other’s mouths, laying side by side on his bed. He pulled away and searched her eyes.

“I should shower first. I must smell rancid from my run.”

“No, you smell of pure man.” She pushed him onto his back and straddled him. With her bear strength, she pulled his hands above his head and held him there.

The rumble erupting from Kingsley set her lower half on fire. She was superior in strength to him, but in that moment, she allowed herself to submit. Kingsley flipped them over in one swift movement. He thrust his groin toward hers, and she felt the hardness of his length against her jean clad core.

“Understand this, Lily, in the bedroom, I hold all the power. It’s my job to make sure you’re completely satisfied before I have my release. Tell me again you want this.”

The Kingsley of a few moments ago had disappeared. The lost boy struggling with his disability vanished, and a strong, virile man replaced him, ready to fuck her into oblivion. She needed this.

“I’m all yours.”

Their lips met again, and Kingsley teased the edge of her mouth with his tongue to open it and delve inside. She tasted him…shifter and human, in this moment, there was no difference. Sex would give them both the comfort they needed.

Kingsley’s hand moved down her body and under her top. She hadn’t bothered to put her underwear back on when dressing after her run. He was instantly able to find the supple flesh of her breasts. Three fingers and a thumb circled around one of her nipples and teased it into a soft peak.

She whimpered under his expert touch.

“Have you had many partners?” she questioned.

He pulled back.

“I went through an experimental stage when I was younger. I had a few different partners, not all women.”

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