Page 42 of Burn for Me

‘I don’t think I’ve ever tasted anything so delicious,’ she said. Her eyes flicked to my mask, and then back down to her food, a frown crossing her perfect lips. ‘I’m sorry. I was so hungry I didn’t even think about how it must feel for you. You hate the shakes too.’

I shrugged, and lifted a hand indicating she should keep eating. Moving closer, I sat beside her and placed a finger on her exposedthigh.

THERE’S NO NEED FOR US BOTH TO SUFFER

‘Thank you.’ She nibbled at the sandwich. ‘I thought you’d left me here. It scared me.’

I spelled out sorry on the soft skin of her thigh.

‘I don’t know what to do. I hate you. You were watching me. You’ve been touching me. And I hate that it feels good.’

Guilt hit my chest. Of course she didn’t want someone like me touching her.

‘Why do you even want me here? Is it because you’ve never had sex? If we have sex will you let me go?’

No, sweet girl. I can never let you go.

I shook my head.

‘But why?’ Her voice rose to a higher pitch.

OBSESSED WITH YOU

Her breath hitched, and she scrutinised my face with those big doe eyes.

‘Why though? You don’t even know me.’

I lifted one of her hands and pressed it against my chest. It wasn’t about knowing. It was a feeling. The moment I saw her in the burning room, there was something that told me she was supposed to be with me. To be mine.

Her eyes focused on mine, my pulse thudding against her palm with the closeness of her. Then her brow creased and she pulled her palm away.

Awkwardness settled over us like a stifling blanket.

‘Did you buy anything else?’ she asked, focusing on the burning logs.

EVERYTHING

A smile turned up the corner of her mouth as I traced the word on her skin.

EVEN APPLES

Her eyebrow quirked up as she made sense of my spelling.

‘Apples?’

PONY

Softness infused her features and gave me an injection of pleasure of a whole different kind.

‘I’ve called him Muffin. Thank you. It was… sweet… for you to think of him.’

I cleared my throat and stood, conflicting feelings swarming through me. She didn’t want to be with me. I didn’t want to be without her.

With the awkward exchange playing over in my mind, I left the cottage, seeking a distraction. How could I make Laura see past the scarred face and the fact I’d taken her?

TWENTY-THREE

Laura

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