Page 272 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

Slowly, I raise my hands to his chest and feel his sharp intake of breath. “You wouldneverhurt me.”

“Never,” Luka says vehemently, but his eyes are sad. “Buthemight.”

“Do you really believe that? He’s a part of you. Part of your soul.”

He releases a harsh sigh. “Maybe they’re right. Maybe my uncle—”

“No, Luka!” I place my hand on his cheek, hoping he’ll look at me. He leans into it, briefly closing his eyes before opening them on me.

“He’swrong.They’rewrong for what they did to you, for how they made you feel. There’s not one thing wrong about you.”

“But—”

“No, buts. You’re perfect the way you are.”

He shakes his head. “I’m too broken to fix.”

“You are not broken.”

“I am.” He takes my hand from his face and holds it tight against his chest.

“Do you know how many times I’ve wanted to reach out and pull you to me? To sleep next to you, to feel your body against mine. Butevery timeI have to stop myself, because I’m so fucking scared that he’ll do something I can never take back.”

“Luka…”

His heart beats fast under my fingers, and a tremble works its way through his body.

“I’m sorry, Kiarra. I can’t—”

I lean forward and press my lips to his, cutting off his doubts. I linger a moment before sliding my tongue along the seam of his lips. I’m about to pull back when I hear him moan, low and deep, sending warm shivers down my back.

Sliding his hand into my hair, he opens his mouth and deepens the kiss. Black tendrils appear, caressing my neck and sliding down my body. Heat unfurls in my lower stomach as his tongue strokes and sucks mine.

I reach up, gripping his shoulders when he pulls back.

His eyes are wide with fear as they stare at the tendrils. “No… He’ll—”

I lean in forward, placing a kiss to his chest, watching as his eyes flutter close. I drag my lips across it, feeling the rise and fall of his breaths beneath me.

“Kiarra…”

“Trust me,” I plead with him.

He opens his eyes, looking down at me. Swallowing hard, he nods, his whole body tense as I move around to his back.

I slowly trail my hands down his back, showing him that nothing about him could make me love him less. His scars were a part of him, and anything part of Luka was beautiful.

I feel him shudder beneath my touch. “Luka? Is this okay?”

“Yes.” Luka moans.

Leaning forward, I place my lips on the top of one of his scars, following its jagged line down his back. Dark tendrils slip out from his skin, beckoning me to touch them.

My finger brushes along them, making me shiver at their warmth.

“I don’t want to hurt you.” Luka swallows hard, the fear slashed across his face as he keeps his body still.

“You won’t,” I promise him.

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