Page 49 of Beautiful Scar

I look back up at him. “You’d do that?”

“For you, I would.” He stares at me, his face showing nothing. Cold and beautiful. Almost uncaring. And yet his offer is so kind, and I hadn’t even asked for it.

“Thank you,” I say quietly, quickly looking away again.

“I want you to be happy here. Even if you’re leaving at some point, this is your home until then.”

Right. The deal. Get knocked up, pump out a baby, peace the heck out. He makes it seem so simple.

“You’re sure it’s okay if, you know, tonight we don’t?—”

“Last night was your first time. You need to recover. You can have a couple nights off.”

I grin slightly. “Thanks, boss. You’re so generous.”

“But don’t let it get to your head. I’ll expect you to work extra hard when you’re ready.” He’s grinning too.

“Here’s me thinkingyouwere supposed to be the hard one,” I blurt out, then I quickly cover my mouth with my hands, holding back a bubbling laugh. “I can’t believe I just said that.”

Tigran gives me a genuine laugh. I like that on him. He grins and leans forward, casually patting my foot like it’s a totally normal thing for us to do. Like he always touches me. “Look at you and your filthy mouth. You’re making dirty jokes now. I’m very proud.”

“It’s your fault. All that stuff you said?—”

“You’ve been thinking about it, haven’t you?” His grin turns pointed as his laughter fades.

“Absolutely not.” I turn my chin. “A lady would never.”

“Pisik, the filthy little woman I fucked into submission last night was far from alady.”

I snort and cover my mouth again. He smirks back, eyes bright and shining with amusement.

Is Tigran actually kind of funny? I mean, that was really hot, but I’m pretty sure he’s just teasing.

I didn’t even know he was capable of that, and I like it.

“All right, boss, I’m changing the subject before you make me choke on this divine grilled cheese. Tell me about your life here. Who are your friends? What were you like growing up?”

I figure we might as well get to know each other since we’re stuck together for a while. It might even humanize him a little bit. Turn him into more than just a sexy, scary monster in a hot suit.

I’m feeling loose and chatty. He has that effect on me for whatever reason.

I can’t remember the last time I wanted to connect with someone in person like this.

And of course, since I’m totally broken in the brain region, I want to connect with a man who does murder for a living.

He tells me about growing up in Baltimore. He alludes to his father and makes it clear that their relationship wasn’t great. He mentions his mother died in childbirth, which breaks my heart.

“I lost my mom young too,” I tell him, shifting closer as I put my plate back down on the tray. I ate everything. I must’ve been hungrier than I realized. “It’s not easy growing up without a mother.”

“Even harder in our world,” he says, watching me carefully, head tilted to the side. His lips are pressed together like he’s considering something. “My older brother, Arsen, runs the family now, but before he took over, our father was a hard-ass. Everything was his way or else. It was more difficult for my brother, but me…”

He trails off and leans his head back, closing his eyes.

“There must’ve been a lot of pressure,” I say softly, trying to imagine what that must’ve been like. I know Evan gets some of that from our dad; he’s expected to take over the business one day in the future. They don’t always agree, but at least Dad hasn’t been an abusive bastard about it.

At least not until recently.

“It’s the nature of our family.” His eyes open again and he’s looking at me with a deep, obsessive intensity. I like that stare. It sends chills down my spine. I picture him between my legs, grinding and growling, his big body dominating mine. It makes me start to rethink the wholenight offthing.

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