Page 93 of Lethal Attraction

He nods. “Okay.”

I help him up, keeping him steady so he doesn’t topple over. The moment his arms are free of the restraints, he reaches for me. His hands grab my hips fiercely as he drags me back into him. I gasp as he bites my earlobe hard enough to pierce the skin, as he gently fixes my dress for me.

I pull my bottom lip between my teeth as I intertwine our fingers and guide him inside my house. The space itself is quaint and warm with dried lavender and rosemary hanging from exposed beams above. Reed takes in the deep forest-green walls, stone fireplace, and my bookshelves overflowing with every genre imaginable.

He chuckles under his breath. “It matches you…”

My blush is warm as I drag him up the stairs. My bedroom is probably my favorite part of the house. A wrought iron four-poster bed with sheer fabric draping down, gauzy curtains over my balcony that filter natural light in, and my stacks of books and polished stones all lying around really add to the ambiance.

Reed looks utterly enchanted as he peers around. “Your house is beautiful.”

“Thank you,” I say bashfully. “I designed it myself.”

“You really have an eye for detail,” he finishes, trailing his fingers across one of the carved bedposts.

I laugh softly. “That’s a polite way of saying I have too many hobbies.”

“No,” he says, turning toward me. “It’s a polite way of saying you’ve managed to make a place feel like home.”

The sincerity in his voice catches me off guard.

This will be your home too.

He peeks into my connected bathroom, nodding at the witchy decor with a small smile. He takes my hand in his, intertwining our fingers before pulling me into the tight space between the cabinet and the wall. We bump against each other as he turns me around and unzips my dress with gentle hands.

I lift my hair away from my neck, an all-out fluttering erupting low in my belly as he takes his time pulling the latex down my thighs until I’m naked before him. The cool air nips at my skin, making my nipples harden.

Reed’s hand slides around my waist, only to trail upward until his thumb brushes over the swollen bud. My eyes flutter at his touch, and I find myself leaning more into him until he cups my face.

“Let me take care of you,” he murmurs.

The bridge of my nose begins to sting as I fight my oncoming tears. No one has ever needed or even wanted to take care of me…

Then again, no one ever asked to either. Which has me questioning whether I really deserve this or not.

“What’s wrong?” He whispers.

I look away, tucking my bottom lip between my teeth so it doesn’t wobble pathetically. “This is just…bittersweet for me.”

“How so? Talk to me, Thalia.” He urges gently.

I take his wrist in my hand, appreciating the warmth of skin on mine. “My mom has said a lot of messed-up stuff to me. It fucks with my head so much that sometimes I feel…” I take a ragged breath, forcing the words out. “I feel like I don’t deserve anything soft or forgiving. That you’re being too kind to me.”

“No such thing,” he shakes his head. “You deserve the whole fucking world, Thalia. I’m going to show you that, but I need you to trust me when I say I would never hurt you. And I’ll strive to show you that.”

A tear slips down my cheek as warmth spreads. Reed uses his thumb to dry it before offering me a fond smile that holds so much serenity in it that my lips twitch into their own. “First, let me show you how I feel.”

I nod.

He steps over to the shower before turning the handles and letting the water kick on. He tests the temperature with the back of his hand before motioning me over. He’s treating me as if I’m fragile, which is laughable considering what he watched me do just a day ago. I’m anything but fragile…

But it feels nice as I wrap my fingers around his and he guides me under the warm stream of water. He follows behind me, closing us in before his hands slide along my waist. My spine shivers at his gentle, intimate touch. My eyes flutter closed as he feathers chaste kisses along my neck.

Then I hear a cap pop, and peek open an eye to see Reed lathering soap onto my black loofah. He lifts it to his nose, inhaling fresh cherries. “I love this scent on you.”

My blush spreads as I tuck my head. “I can wash myself…”

He gives me a patient smile. “I want to take care of you for a change.”