Page 98 of Immortal Unveiled

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Kim stopped at the door that connected the bathroom with Manus’s bedroom, hesitating for a moment. For a week now, she’d spent practically every night at the compound with Manus even though there was no reason Manus still needed to protect her. The demons knew that the book was now in the possession of the Stealth Guardians again, safe and sound, locked away in a vault they would never gain access to. Kim was of no more value to them anymore and therefore of no consequence to the Stealth Guardians either.

Still, Manus had come to see her every day since he’d rescued her from Zoltan and taken her back to his private quarters at the compound, practically devouring her the moment the door closed behind them. But how long could this last? Sure, Tessa and Hamish were somehow making their relationship work, just as Aiden and Leila did. Logan and Winter were a different story. At least they were both preternaturals, and while Kim hadn’t dared ask such a personal question, she assumed that as a preternatural creature, Winter was immortal like her husband. But Tessa and Leila? Wouldn’t they eventually age and die while their husbands remained young and alive? How could such an unequal situation ever turn out to be satisfactory? How could they ever be happy?

Kim sighed. She couldn’t face this prospect, a future where Manus would eventually lose interest in her because she would turn into an old woman, and he would remain a young man with needs she would eventually not be able to satisfy anymore. That’s why she’d come to a decision. Tonight would be her last night with Manus. She would tell him that he had no obligations toward her, and that he shouldn’t feel guilty if he broke it off with her.

She understood now why he’d never formed any emotional attachments after his parents’ death: for him, love would eventually end in heartbreak. And she couldn’t do that to him. At least now, this early in their relationship, his heart was still his, and therefore she couldn’t hurt him. That she had, however, already lost her heart to him, he would never have to find out. A clean break was best now before their feelings for each other deepened.

With a steely resolve, Kim opened the bathroom door and stepped into the bedroom. She froze at the sight of what Manus had done to it. Dozens of candles gave the room a soft glow. Flickering shadows drew abstract pictures on the walls. And amidst all of it, Manus stood waiting for her. His robe stood open, giving her a clear view of his boxer briefs that stretched tightly over his groin. He was ready for her, just like he’d been ready every night since her rescue.

This would be so much harder than she’d expected.

“You look stunning,” Manus said, his eyes roaming over her body.

She’d donned her sexiest nightgown, a concoction of red silk and black lace, wanting to make their last night a memorable one though she knew she wouldn’t wear the expensive outfit for too long. But she also knew that Manus liked to feast his eyes on her, and she was more than willing to oblige him.

Kim ran her eyes over him now. He’d finally gotten more comfortable with presenting his bare chest, with not hiding it anymore, despite the ugly scars that marred it. She didn’t really notice them anymore. They were part of who he was.

“Something wrong?” Manus slowly walked toward her.

She met his eyes, and he suddenly stopped in his approach.

“Did something happen?”

She didn’t know how to broach the subject. How could she tell the man she loved that she was breaking up with him because they couldn’t have a future together?

“Kim, you’re making me nervous. Talk to me.”

She swallowed hard. “I need to tell you something… We can’t be…”

Two more steps, and he stood in front of her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “We can’t be what?”

“Doing this… anymore. It’s not… There’s no…” Her voice cracked. She couldn’t find the right words.

“Doing what? Damn it, Kim, what are you trying to say?”

“We can’t have a relationship,” Kim finally said.

Visibly startled, Manus pulled back until his arms were straight. “Are you breaking up with me?”

“It’s best this way.”

He tossed her an incredulous look. “Best? For whom?”

“For both of us.” She dropped her gaze to her bare feet, unable to withstand his penetrating eyes for fear she would cry.

“I see,” he said slowly and took his hands off her shoulders. “So, you’ve finally woken up and decided you don’t want to be fucked by the scarred guy anymore. I should have known.”

“Scarred—” She gasped involuntarily. “It’s not your scars, it’s—”

“Spare me the lies,” Manus snapped, cutting her off. “I should have known.”

“Manus, believe me. It’s not that.”

He pivoted, turning his back to her. “Why don’t you get dressed and leave?”

“Not like this, Manus.” She couldn’t let him think that she was leaving him because of his scars. “It has nothing to do with your scars.”