Page 65 of His Own Heaven

Lucy wiped her mouth and chin with the back of her hand, her eyes shuttered, her lips curved in a look that said she was entirely too pleased with herself.

Cheeky woman. Toby chuckled and held out his hands, then pulled her to her feet. “I need to find another way to punish you,” he said with a sigh. “You enjoy it too much.”

She tried looking innocent but it wasn’t a look she wore well.

Toby hauled her against his firm body and slapped her arse hard. The loud crack of his big hand against her pliant flesh rent the air and drowned out her sudden intake of breath, but not the sultry sigh that followed.

He chuckled again and shook his head. “See what I mean?”

Completely unrepentant, his woman leaned up and nibbled his jaw. “Admit it. You love it.”

But he had no intention of admitting anything. Especially when his feelings on the matter were so new and uncertain.

“Get back in bed,” he ordered, his hand delivering another sound smack on her butt. Lucy whimpered and rubbed her body against his—horny girl—and he was about to throw her down on the sheets when he remembered why they were out of bed in the first place. Reining in his need, he kissed her forehead. “Do as you’re told. I’ll get you some water.”

Lucy nodded and stepped out of his embrace. “Yes, Sir.”

Toby returned from the kitchen with two glasses of water then settled back into bed, propping himself against the padded headboard and wondering how the hell he was going to fit his overly large body in Lucy’s regular sized bed. When she leaned into him and snaked one arm across his stomach, he ceased to care.

Lifting an arm around her shoulders, Toby brushed his fingertips over her scars. And curiosity got the better of him. “How did you get burned? You said the other night it was a house fire, but what actually happened to you?”

She stiffened beside him. “I thought you wanted to know about Maisie.”

“I want to know everything about you,” he said quietly, tightening his hold on her.

She tried burying her head between his pecs, then sighed heavily. Her breath tickled his skin. “Everything?” she mumbled against his chest.

“Everything.”

Lifting her head, she stared at him, her eyes darkened by the muted light in the room, and Toby was surprised by what he saw lurking in her golden depths.

Fear.

“I’m not ready for that yet,” she muttered quickly, quietly, and tried to move away.

Tightening his arm around her even more, he held her against his chest and prevented her escape. “Just tell me about Maisie, then,” he said, keeping his voice low and calm.

She let loose a humourless laugh. “I’m not sure I’m ready for that either.”

“Would it be easier if I made it a command instead of a question?”

He felt her lips tilt up where they pressed against his chest. “No, Sir,” she said, shifting so she sat fully in his lap and rested her head on his shoulder. “Maisie used to be a nurse. She helped my Nan look after me,”—she waved a hand at her scars—“after this happened. She was bossy and funny and never allowed me to wallow in self-pity.”

“What about your parents? Where were they during your recovery?” he asked, then mentally slapped himself when he felt her stiffen against his body. This was why he usually left the talking to Charlie. Toby could boss a woman around in bed like a champ, but small talk—and not so small talk—had a tendency to end with his foot in his mouth. “Were they…? Ah, are they…?”

“Dead?” Lucy supplied.

“Yeah.”

“No. But I am. As far as they’re concerned.” Toby felt her breath stutter against his neck, heard her sniff like she was holding back tears. “They disowned me,” she whispered. “After the fire.”

Toby stared straight ahead at the bare wall and scowled. He’d cut his own mother out of his life and only because she was a piece of work who didn’t deserve the time of day. His father had always had his back though, had always been there for him and his brothers and sister when they needed him, knew Uly would come running when they called.

How could Lucy’s parents abandon her when she was hurt and needed them the most? What possible justification could they have for treating their daughter that way?

“Lucy.” He tilted his head to look down at her, but she refused to meet his gaze. Gripping her chin with hard fingers, he made her look at him. “Why would they do that?”

The fear he’d seen in her expression only moments ago intensified. Her eyes were open wide and her bottom lip quivered, until she pulled it between her teeth and bit down.

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