Page 14 of His Asset
I’d been born in a lab, raised without touch, without closeness.We weren’t allowed physical contact in our hourly sessions.I’d been deprived of sensation for so long I hadn’t known what I’d been missing.
Until now.
Everything overwhelmed me.Not just the earthy, spiced scent clinging to him, but the heat of his chest against mine, the steady thrum of his heartbeat, the brush of his jacket, too smooth, too fine to be real.Even the sound of his breath, measured and controlled, filled my ears like it belonged to me.
I looked up, mesmerized.His freshly shaven face, his full lips tight with unspoken fury.Eyes like burnished gold, storm-darkened with emotion.A square-cut jaw clenched so hard it sharpened his whole face.
Then he stepped toward the door and pressed a hand to the scanning pad, access only granted to the most trusted.
When the doors slid open and he carried me through, reality hit like an icy shock.I didn’t know this man.I didn’t know what he wanted.Behind us, Angel and the others were still dying.
And I was leaving them.
A scream ripped from my throat, rage, terror, grief all tangled into one unbearable sound.I twisted from his hold, my wings flaring wide.The claw at the tip of my wing tore through his jacket and shirt, then into his chest before the rich, metallic scent of his blood spilled free.
Chapter Six
Iwas shaken awakeby invisible hands, my eyes tearing apart and my breathing ragged as I focused on the silver-haired man who kneeled above me, the window next to us letting in enough early morning light to make out his grim features.“Reuben,” I gasped.
“Easy,” he said hoarsely, his grip releasing me even as his stare continued to hold mine.“You were having a nightmare.Your scream woke me,” he added.
I pressed a hand to my chest, my heartbeat racing.“I-I’m sorry,” I croaked.
“Don’t be sorry.”He touched my brow before gently running his fingers through my tangled hair.“Past trauma?”
I nodded, then confessed, “I might have escaped from my past but I clearly can’t escape from my memories.”
He clucked his tongue, some strands of his silver hair pushed up high.“That’s when you realize you have to turn around and fight just to keep your sanity intact.”
Didn’t he realize there were some things that couldn’t be fought?My laugh came out grating.“Sounds like you’re speaking from experience.”
His smile was crooked.“Then you’d be right.”
“What happened?”I asked.
He cocked his head to the side.“Shouldn’t I be askingyouthat?”