Chapter 24

• She sobbed quietly, and it felt like he was being torn into shreds. Relaxing his hold on her, he rubbed his hand down her back, as gently as he could, at least he hoped it was gentle. His cat was giving him back some control, but he was so scared he would hurt her. His hand felt damp, and he realized his palms were bleeding and he was essentially wiping the blood off on the blanket. He wanted to step away from her, too many emotions were riding him right now. But he couldn’t leave her.
• Leaning down he rested his head on hers and took a deep breath, taking her scent inside him. His cat reacted immediately and backed off. She smelled of spices, making him think of someone baking in the kitchen. It was a ridiculous thought, what the hell did he know about baking? The pleasant scent was tinged with anguish, and he was sure it was that alone that had his cat settle down and behave. Now was not the time to lose control.
• As she relaxed in his arms, he became aware of how it felt to hold her. Her soft body fit against his like she was the other half of his own. His gut tightened with need, and it startled him. He tensed and lifted his head from her. He’d never felt lust before but knew this was what it was. He’d seen too much in his life to ever want that part of a relationship.