Page 57 of Dancing with My Elf
“No, it’s fine.” I gestured with my hand in a downward motion. “I don’t talk about it often.” After a deep breath, I revealed, “When my father was killed, I was there. I witnessed his murder.”
Lucas sucked in a breath. “That’s horrible, Zoe. Just utterly awful.” His eyes widened, and he shook his head.
He appeared distressed by my news, concerned for me rather than seeking some salacious gossip.
“Yeah.” I lowered my gaze to the table. “It was.”
“I’m so sorry,” he added, his voice gentle. “How old were you?”
“Eight. My mother was out with my two brothers. I was home with my dad. We heard screams outside. When my father looked out and saw what was going on, he took me by the shoulders. He said it was dangerous outside and told me to hide. I slipped under the bed. He grabbed a poker stick from the fireplace and opened the front door. A demon covered in red skin that had to be seven feet tall and had curved horns tormented a woman. She was on her knees as he did something with his hand over her head that made her scream in convulsions. My father shouted, ‘Let her go.’ He ran toward the demon with the poker raised. The demon laughed and threw a ball of pulsing light at my father. It hit him square in the chest and he collapsed, dying instantly.”
“What a nightmare,” Lucas said. “I’m so sorry that happened to you.”
“They’re so powerful.” Bitterness coated my tongue. “I’ll do anything to prevent them from hurting anyone else.”
Lucas reached across the table and touched my hand. “I understand. What you went through is unimaginable.”
I glanced down. “I should have done something. I should have helped him.”
“No, Zoe. You couldn’t. You were so young. If you tried, it sounds like you would have been killed just like your father. He knew this and that’s why he told you to hide.”
“Yeah, I get that. It doesn’t mean I don’t wish I did something differently.”
“That’s guilt talking. You did the best you could. And you’ve been doing so much since then, taking on more than anyone I know. That’s admirable.”
A lump formed in my throat. Sobs threatened to shake my frame, but I forced them down with several deep breaths. “Now you know why I don’t tell this story often. It’s—um—tough to talk about.”
“I’m glad you trusted me enough to tell me.”
Although it hurt to tell the story, it also felt good to get it out, especially to Lucas. He didn’t look at me with pity or dismiss my feelings like my ex had—'it was a long time ago. You need to move on.’Some things shatter you so much, they become a part of your being.
“So that’s why I’m a bit obsessed when it comes to demons,” I admitted. “I can’t let them destroy any more families. I can’t let my father’s death be in vain.”
Lucas’s eyes widened with such concern, I swallowed. “I’m here for you, Zoe. If you let me, I’m here.”
“I know.” But did I? Why did I say that? I didn’t know if Lucas would stick around once the amusement faded.
Why was I even going down this dark path? Our date had been going wonderful, probably the best one I’d ever had. I shouldn’t have killed the sensual mood with my troubled past. All I should be thinking about was tonight, just one night…
“Enough of my sad story.” I forced a smile and picked up a menu. Not the least bit hungry anymore, I barely noted what I scanned. “How about dessert?”
After that intenseconversation during dinner, I kept the conversation light as we drove north, focusing on the notorious Boston traffic or the music from the radio. Lucas followed the flow, not pushing me to delve deeper into any of my dark secrets, for which I was grateful.
As we approached Salem, I wrestled with what to do next. I wanted more tonight but was so rusty, I didn’t know how to go about this. When it came to seduction, Lucas was king, and I was as suave as a court jester.
“Should I drive you home?” I asked, getting the feeler out there.
“Sure, if that’s what you’d like,” he replied. “Although, I don’t want the night to end with you yet.” His rich velvety tone ended with a twinge of longing, echoing my need.
I took a deep breath and exhaled. “Me neither.”
The atmosphere in the car grew palpable with torrid awareness. What was it with Lucas turning my car into a heat mobile, consuming us with lust? Well, he was a dragon—a very hot and smoldering dragon.
“Diego and Sebastian are both at work.”
“Oh,” I replied, forcing a nonchalant tone.
Lucas placed his hand on my thigh. “Stay the night with me, Zoe.”
