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Jericho leaned over her and planted a brief kiss on her floundering lips. “You won’t be in it long,” he stated before pulling back and heading for the door.

“Awesome,” she exclaimed on an exhale of breath.

One speed-of-light shower and a dash down the steps later, Alex sat before a mountain of pancakes, of which she’d managed to eat three. Proud of his mad pancake-flipping skills, Jericho’s shoulders inched back with every bite she took.

And so, she chewed.

Her four-legged breakfast companionwas little help. The traitor had finished off his share of the bacon, then hustled outside to survey his domain.

She forced another bite while admiring the view. Without a doubt, the man standing at the sink—washing dishes no less—was one of the sexiest sights she’d ever seen. The fact he wasn’t wearing a shirt in front of her put a huge smile on her face.

With zero shame, she ogled his broad shoulders and firm backside. The silver scars marring his skin did nothing to detract from the masculine display. Here she was, barely out of bed, and already her fingers itched to touch him.

Why am I still sitting here? She hopped off the stool and moved in close. With her arms around his stomach, she brushed a kiss against the scars on his back. No more secrets, right? Would he share this one with her as well?

He dropped his head and braced his arms on the edge of the sink. “Go ahead, ask,” he insisted, reading her correctly.

She pressed her cheek against his shoulder blade. “You can tell me when you’re ready.” This needed to be his decision with no pressure on her part.

He turned in her embrace and locked his arms around her. He watched her in silence for a moment, then his chest rose and fell with a harsh exhale. “The scars are self-inflicted. When Sivanah had no further use for me, she wanted to prolong my suffering. Since I was young enough to still be vulnerable to sunlight, she took control of my mind and ordered me to flog myself until the sun rose.”

Alex’s teeth ground hard enough to crack. It wasn’t enough that the bitch had used him. She had to torture him and leave him to die as well? Worst of all, Alex sensed Jericho believed he deserved the abuse.

“But what about your family? There must have been someone around to defend you.”

As he shook his head, a wave of pain and betrayal flooded their connection. “My weakness shamed them. They turned their backs on me and left me to burn. And that is where I would have died if Liam hadn’t found me.”

Turned their backs on him.Her burning gaze drifted to Titan’s empty food bowl. Then it dawned on her. Abandoned. Scarred. No wonder he was unable to leave the hellhound behind.

She sawed her teeth into her lip, afraid he wouldn’t continue.

“Liam was hunting a bounty. The trail led him in my direction.” With Liam’s name, the bitter wash of Jericho’s emotions began to ease. “He stumbled upon me just before dawn and was outraged.” The sins of Jericho’s past darkened his eyes. “With my faith destroyed, I was ready to fulfill Sivanah’s order to end my life. Liam wouldn’t allow it. He saved me, even though I fought him every step of the way.”

Jericho snorted. “He said only a pansy-ass coward would surrender and that death was the easy way out. In time, Sivanah’s influence faded. He pulled me back from the edge, made me strong, made me what I am today.” Pride and respect resonated in Jericho’s voice.

His lips pulled into a bittersweet grin. “And that is why I could never dishonor him.” He cupped the plentiful curves of her ass. “Not even for a fiery little temptress.”

Without warning, he lifted and set her on the kitchen island. The cold granite shocked her senses, and she yelped. Curse the man and his T-shirts.

He swooped in, kissing her soundly until all the questions in her head faded into oblivion. She stroked his back, wishing she could wipe away the painful memories that haunted him.

Something deep within her reached out, and theglyphheated along her spine. Her head spun as the energy humming in their connection shifted—flowing outward. She sensed it rolling over him in a soothing balm, cooling the sting of the unwelcome memory.

The tension in his shoulders eased, and the kiss gentled, growing tender as he withdrew. Because of her?

“I feel you inside of me, Little Sympath,” Jericho confirmed. “Are you trying to fix me?”

Her brows pinched. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.” Although it was nice to know she could use her powers for good as well as evil. Unfortunately, just as with Slade, she still hadnoidea how she’d done it.

Jericho tucked her hair behind her ear. “I can put on a shirt if you prefer.”

It took her brain a moment to catch up. “Um, what? What are you talking about?”

“The scars.”

Alex frowned, choosing her words carefully. “The scars don’t bother me. It’s the pain you suffered that I have a problem with. I’d love to travel back in time and hunt down that deceitful bitch. Deliver my own brand of justice.” Unlike Jericho’s swift retribution, Alex’s would be slow and painful.

He ran his fingers beneath her jaw. “My Chosen is fierce.” His quirking lips roused her anger.