Draven’s lips twitch with a show of humor, but immediately he’s serious again. “Did he ever hurt you, Claire?”
“No,” I whisper, casting my eyes down to the console “Butshedid. Even though I cleaned and cooked and tried to earn my keep. And as her kids got older, they adopted their mother’s behavior. They thought it was normal to kick me as I passed or throw an elbow. They always made it seem like accidents and…” This part hurt the most. “My father believed them.”
The stoplight turns green, but Draven doesn’t move, his hand shaking where it holds my jaw. “If anyone ever hurts you again,” he says in a low pitch, “I will strangle them to death without hesitation.” A wave of pure agony moves across his face. “I’m sorry I was so mean to you tonight when you walked into the kitchen. God, I hate myself for that.”
“It’s okay. You have a scary reputation to maintain,” I say, teasingly. Breathless over his utter devotion to me. To protecting me. No one has ever worried about my safety before.
“It’snotokay.” He shakes his head. “You were so brave and beautiful, I felt the fucking ground quaking under my feet—and I reacted. That’s no excuse, though, and I’m going to make up for how I acted. I need you to forget I was ever anything but good to you.”
I turn my head to kiss his wrist. “I’m already forgetting.”
A horn toots behind us. Draven continues to stare at me, his adoring gaze tracing my face over and over again, like he can’t believe I’m real.
“I’m pretty sure the stoplight has been green three times since we stopped,” I whisper.
“How am I ever going to be a productive human being again when I have you to look at?” he asks, wetting his lips. “Fuck, I want to kiss you, but that taste will go right to my head. We need to get home first.”
“Okay,” I murmur, feeling dainty and worshipped and special.
For the first time in my life.
But I’ve only gotten the first glimpse into how special I really am.
Chapter Six
Draven
I’m still fuming when we walk into my building an hour later.
My loft is on the top floor overlooking the sound, and I’m desperate to get my girlfriend inside those four safe walls where she belongs. Claire’s hand is enfolded inside of mine, and I might never let go of it again after seeing the kind of conditions she’s been living in for the past two days. The Dixie Motel was worse than I thought. Rotten, rundown, moldy and riddled with crime. It’s a wonder she survived.
Impatiently, I punch the button for the elevator.
“You’re overreacting,” she says, sounding a little out of breath, probably because in my state of total outrage, she’s been running to keep up with me since we parked my car.
With a wave of regret, I toss her up into my arms and lean down to kiss her forehead.
“Sorry,” I mutter. “I just feel sick to my stomach thinking what might have happened if my brother chose not to hire you. Would I have found you?”
The elevator door opens and I carry my treasure inside, her small bag of possessions looped over my shoulder.Please don’t let this be a dream.
This morning, I woke up bleary eyed from too much cognac and the stress that comes from maintaining a perfect restaurant. That was all I had. Now, I cannot even begin to fathom my life without the angelic girl nestled into my chest. I’ve been granted a miracle, but I can only seem to dwell on how close I came to never knowing her.
“I think you would have found me, regardless,” she says, her fingers so sweet and welcome on my stubbled jaw. “But I’m glad your brother decided to ‘throw me to the wolf.’”
Irritation rakes up my spine. “Is that how he phrased it?”
She hums. “It’s okay. It’s easy to see he’s the one with the sharper teeth.”
Something moves inside of me. It’s appreciation and discomfort, all at once. Appreciation because Claire sees me for who I really am. Or who Icanbe, for her.
Discomfort because my brother is now part of the conversation.
“He’s going to be a problem, Claire.”
“I know,” she whispers.
“He wants you.”