Page 37 of Broken Prince

He paused the show and I braced for what was to come.

“I know. But I just wonder what made you say that you know…for science.”

Even though I could hear the smile in his voice, I was still so uncomfortable. It seemed that I lost the little filter I had since moving here.

“It’s just—”Lord, take me now. “Well, I know I’m not the most beautiful woman in the world or anything, but I’m the only woman around, and you seemed almost repulsed at the idea. I just thought—” I shrugged. “I don’t know what I thought.”

I gave him a side-look as he launched the show again.

He popped a few kernels of sweet and salty goodness in his mouth, his eyes trained on the TV but I knew I’d unsettled him.

He let out a sigh. “We all have scars, lovely girl,” he said, turning toward me with a sad, almost wistful smile. “Some are out there, on your skin like an armor—a proof of your struggle. But some, the most vicious and destroying of all, are internal and they grow, fester, and…” He stopped suddenly and let out a shaky breath. “You’re amazing, you are perfect, and I feel a strong attachment to you that is unfamiliar and unsettling. I feel like you’re family and it’s again all new to me. Be grateful that it is not romantic—be grateful that all I want from you is your friendship and your trust.”

“Grateful?” I asked, my cheeks warming at the kindness of his words. It was not crazy though; I felt the same from the first day and I was glad to have a friend now. I’d been so alone for too long.

He nodded. “Yep, otherwise Luca would have killed me.”

“Why?” My heart accelerated. Was it at all possible he felt something for me? “Oh, wait. Is it because he doesn’t approve of fraternization between staff?”

Dom chuckled. “Yes, sure, let’s say it’s that.”

I opened my mouth to ask more but shook my head. What was the point?

We’d just started to settle in to watch the show again when he spoke.

“Just—” he started.

“Just?”

He took a deep breath. “I saw you in the garden with Luca.”

I was not sure I liked how the subject started. “Okay…”

“Just—” He shook his head. “Luca is an amazing person, or he used to be. I think he still is under all the pain and guilt and whatever else he feels.” He patted my leg. “I saw him freak. I saw him retreat in his shell. Be patient with him, be forgiving. He is worth it.”

I looked up at him in a sort of awe. He was a true friend; he saw it too. I was not crazy…the connection I had with Luca. I might have been young and inexperienced, but I knew it was something special. The way I got lost in his dark orbs, the way a mere touch made him shiver, that had to be special.

“I promise.”

He nodded and that was the end of it.

We watched a couple more episodes or at least I thought so because I fell asleep, my head against Dom’s shoulder, not feeling lonely for the first time since the FBI turned my life upside down.

Chapter Eleven

LUCA

It had been three days since the incident in the garden when she had unsettled me. When she’d touched me, I didn’t want to recoil from her touch—quite the contrary. I wanted to lean into her touch, seek her comfort, and I didn't deserve it.

Her touch has quieted my pain, my heartache. I wanted more, and I'd never wanted more—I'd never felt the need for anyone, especially not a woman, and yet her fingers on my skin… It felt like redemption and I craved her.

She’d shaken me to the core, and the only thing I could have done was run away and hide, hoping this weakness would disappear, but it didn’t.

I fought it, fought her, until I couldn’t anymore until I stood in this kitchen, watching her knead some dough with a yellow apron that used to be my mother’s.

“It smells like orange and cinnamon.”

She froze at the sound of my voice, and it grated me the wrong way. She was just getting so close to Dom these days. Two peas in a pod and that bothered me a lot more than I cared to admit.

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