Page 8 of Timeless Pages

Chapter eight

Nathan

I f I had thought there was a chance I had imagined her flinching earlier, there wasn’t any doubt now.

My blood ran cold, and my heart twisted in my chest when Isa flinched away from me.

I didn’t know this woman, but I knew I never wanted her to be afraid of me or my friends.

It might take time, but I was determined to get her used to my touch.

I tucked her hair behind her ear, and while I could tell that my proximity unsettled her, I couldn’t resist grazing her cheek with my finger when I retreated.

“What has he done to you, Little Bell?” I asked softly.

“Tell us everything.” While Dominic warned us not to fall for Isa, I knew it was too late.

Somehow, even though our interactions had been brief, the small girl had gotten under my skin.

I wasn’t one to pay much attention to anyone outside my friends, so this was new for me.

I was just as surprised by my reactions to her as Evan and Dom were.

It would be easier if I walked away and didn’t care.

But I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t ignore…

this. I noticed everything about Isa. Every nuance in her expression.

The way the gold flakes in her brown eyes brightened, and her nostrils flared slightly when she was angry.

The way she nervously licked her lips, and her eyes darted around the room when she felt uncomfortable, as if she were looking for monsters in the shadows.

I even noticed how her body leaned toward me just a bit while her face told me to fuck off.

I wanted this woman in my arms and in my bed, where she belonged since she had already wormed her way into my heart. But I needed it to be her decision. Her choice. And I was pretty sure she needed that, too.

Isa’s eyes hardened as her defenses rose. “It isn’t your concern,” she replied curtly.

“How can we help you if you don’t talk to us?” I asked.

“Please let us help,” Evan pleaded. She looked at him, and it almost seemed like his sad puppy dog eyes were working until she stiffened and shook her head.

“Did it ever occur to you that perhaps I'm not interested in trading one master for another?” she asked angrily. “I’m going to figure this out on my own and never owe a man a damn thing ever again. Please leave.”

Master? She had it all wrong. While I wouldn’t mind ordering her around in the bedroom from time to time, I wasn’t foolish enough to think I was the Master of a damn thing when it came to her.

This beauty already had me in the palm of her hand, ready to do her bidding, and she didn’t even realize it.

Isa went to walk past me to the door to show us out, and instinctively, I reached out and grabbed her arm.

The cry of pain that exploded from her put me into a momentary state of shock.

I know I didn’t use excessive force or squeeze her arm.

With wide eyes, Isa turned back toward me as mine slowly dropped to her arm.

It was summertime, and she was wearing a cardigan.

In hindsight, that should have been the first red flag that something wasn’t right.

Slowly, I slid the sleeve up her arm to reveal a bloody bandage.

But that wasn’t what made me gasp or Dominic swear under his breath.

Around the bandage were what had to be hundreds of scars.

I pushed the sleeve up to her elbow, and the scars continued past where I could see.

Did we have it all wrong? Isa blushed with embarrassment as she tucked her other arm behind her back.

I was willing to bet her other arm was just as covered.

“What the fuck is this?” I growled