Page 15 of Burned

The words tear through me.

“Temporary?”

Her mouth trembles once before she controls it. “I want you to say I’m not some warm body you bought after your real love died. I want you to say I’m not the convenient replacement. I want you to say that if she walks through that door, I don’t become the mistake you made while you thought she was dead.”

The idea is so absurd, so offensive, so violently wrong that for a moment I can only stare at her.

Then fury breaks free.

Not at her.

At every person, every man, every moment that taught her to ask that question.

I take her face in both hands.

“You listen to me very carefully.”

Her breath catches.

Good.

“I have made mistakes. I have done unforgivable things. And yes, I have loved badly because loving her got people killed.” Mythumbs brush the sharp line of her cheekbones. “But you are not a replacement for anyone.”

Her eyes shine. She blinks it back. Stubborn little thing. “Lucian?—”

“No. You asked. Now you listen.” I lean closer. “Isobel was my past. A brutal one.

But you aren’t just something that came after.”

I drag my thumb over her lower lip.

Her breath slips.

“You are what came after me,” I say. “After the fire. After Carlos. After every decent part of me burned out. You walked into the ruin and dragged me out and made me breathe again.”

Her eyes search mine. I feel the moment those words land. Not fully. Not enough.

But some of the stiffness leaves her shoulders.

I want to kiss her.

I want to do more than kiss her.

I want to strip that coat from her body, bend her over the nearest surface, and remind her in the only language we both understand that no corner of me is untouched by her. And there will be no inch of her I don’t possess.

But she is still hurt. And I’m still furious. A dangerous combination.

Her gaze drops to my mouth, then back up.

“There,” I murmur. “There’s the look.”

“What look?” she sniffs.

“The one where you want me and hate how much you do.”

She shakes her head, lying. “I don’t hate it.”

I brush my thumb along her jaw. “And you’re angry because I’m keeping you in the dark.”