Page 46 of Burned

Women who are worthy of love.

I look around.

At Cass, moaning over the scent of an orange-blossom body wash. At Ryan, arranging the Spider-Man sheet over his shoulders like a cape, then smoothing the comforter over the rug like a play mat. At Mack, watching the door with his tattooed neck and soft eyes that he probably thinks no one can see.

At Blaze, pretending to inspect a sparkly purple leather handbag, holding it against his side.

“Bayne,” he calls. “Does this make my hips look wide?”

Bayne ignores him, staring out the window.

“This one makes me look approachable,” Blaze says, switching it out for a hot pink one that is way more Cass than me.

Blaze brings it to his chest. “It brings out my eyes.”

“It brings out your need for supervision,” Bayne finally replies.

Ryan laughs, and the sound breaks something open in the room.

I look back at Lucian.

“I love it so much, I don’t even know how to act,” I whisper. I choke back a tearful laugh, knowing I should be doing something other than standing in this doorway, frozen. “I love it.”

His expression shifts.

Barely.

But I see the relief.

I step closer and lower my voice so only he hears. “I don’t know how to have this.

But I’m more grateful than I could ever find the words for. And I promise, I’ll learn to be less awkward about gifts.”

He cups my cheek. “You don’t have to do anything. Just be you.”

My voice is even raspier than usual. “A reasonable request.”

His thumb strokes beneath my eye, catching the tear before it falls.

Behind us, the stylist opens a garment bag and reveals a cropped silver jacket that makes Cass mutter, “Absolutely not,” in the exact tone that means she wants to touch it.

Lucian wraps his arms around me.

His breath warms my skin. “I love you.”

I reach up on tiptoe to kiss him and say it back. “I love you.”

Staring down at me, he demands, “Say it again.”

And I say, “I love you, Lucian.”

Then we kiss.

When we part, he says it again.

His words settle inside me.

Dangerous. Beautiful. Terrifying.