Page 16 of Falling for the Beast

She traced the marred skin lightly with her finger. “And the others? The same way?”

“All of them.”

“It hurts you.”

It wasn’t a question this time, but he answered it softly anyway. “Yes.”

“Then why do you do it?”

He frowned and pulled his hand away from her. “I think we’re done with the questions.”

“I’ve upset you.”

He scrubbed his hand over his stubble, took in a deep breath, and exhaled. “It’s not you. I just don’t have an uncomplicated answer.”

Aribelle wanted to reach out to him again. Touch the jagged scar on his face. Tell him he was beautiful, even with the scars. Maybe even because of the scars. But she didn’t know how to say it, so she leaned back on her hands. “Are you hungry?”

A small smile lifted his lips. “Yeah.”

“Good. I’ll make us some soup.” She stood.

“Make, or heat up?” A full grin appeared.

“Oh, you’re making fun of my cooking now?”

He chuckled. “What you do isn’t cooking.”

“Look who’s talking. You’re the one who hired someone else to make your food.” She huffed and stepped over him on her way to the kitchen.

She heard him quietly laughing as she opened the pantry and took out a can of chicken noodle soup. It didn’t take long to heat in the saucepan. She poured it into two bowls and brought it into the living room on a tray.

Thaddeus grunted and rolled over on his side.

“Hey, take it easy,” she said, kneeling beside him.

“I feel better,” he insisted, sitting up. The wince on his face contradicted his words. He leaned against the leather couch.

“You need to take care of yourself. I don’t want to have to—“

“I’ll be fine,” he said, interrupting her. He pointed to the bowls. “Eat.”

She picked up her bowl and dug the spoon in. He shot her a half-grin and did the same. As she ate, she studied his face, wondering how many people he’d healed over the years. Did he remember how he acquired each scar? How long had he been doing this? Was this all he did, sleep during the day and heal people at night?

He drew his eyebrows together in a scowl. “Don’t look at me like that.”

His anger surprised her. “Like what?”

“Like I’m some kind of…hero.” He said the word like it tasted bad. “That’s not what I am.”

She swallowed the last spoonful while keeping a steady eye on him. “Then what are you?”

His gaze faltered and he set his bowl down. “A beast.”

Chapter 9

Thaddeus watched her eyes widen,her cheeks grow flushed. She shook her head vehemently. “You’re not.”

How could he make her understand? He wasn’t what she thought. And as soon as she found out the truth, she would leave. He fought to gain control of his emotions. “You don’t understand.”

---