Darkest Sins (Perfectly Imperfect #9)

“Not even dogs?” I ask, wanting to know every little thing about him.

“Especially dogs.”

“Do you know that saying: ‘people who don’t like animals, don’t like people, either’?”

“I guess the saying is true. I don’t like people.”

“But here you are, sitting on a roof, chatting with one. While she’s dozing at your side, I might add.”

“Yes. And she’s freezing, as well. I’m taking you home.” He slides his other arm under my knees, lifting me onto his lap, blanket and all, then rises.

I wrap my arm around his neck and meet his pale-gray gaze.

“For someone who doesn’t like people, you seem rather worried about my well-being,” I whisper.

“Seems that way.”

As he carries me toward the roof exit, his long strides swiftly covering the distance, I slide my hand to the back of his head and run my palm down the length of his braid. He comes to a halt so suddenly that I yelp.

“Sorry.” I snatch my hand away. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

With his eyes focused on the building access door in front of him, he stands completely unmoving for a moment, then turns his head to face me. I stop breathing, absolutely captivated by his eyes boring into mine, and the sensation of being wrapped in his arms.

“I don’t like anyone touching my hair,” he says.

I suck in a breath. Considering all the pinching, prodding, and squeezing I’ve done while patching him up, I didn’t expect that he would care if I touched his hair. “I won’t do it again.”

His eyes lower to my lips, and linger there for a heartbeat. Then, he quickly looks away. “I don’t mind when you do it, cub.”

I resume stroking his hair while he carries me down the stairs and then across the hallway toward my apartment door. The alcohol haze and the drowsiness from earlier have vanished. Banished by the thrill of being held by him again, feeling his warmth beneath my touch. His eyes keep straining on the path ahead, but mine are glued to his face, trailing over each sharp line, devouring the sight of him. What would he do if I tried to kiss him? Kiss me back? Or walk away and never show up again? I have no idea how to define this . . . thing between us.

When we reach my door, he stops before it but doesn’t set me down. A moment passes. He keeps staring right in front of him, at the new door he was responsible for. And I keep looking at him.

We’re both lost in our visions until there’s a sudden click, and the motion-activated hallway lights turn off, leaving us in complete darkness. I thought I couldn’t be any more aware of him, but now, in the blackout, his presence is immense. The softness of his hair under my fingers. The rise and fall of his chest. Warm breath tingling the skin of my face. The beating of his heart just next to my ear. It’s well after midnight and, other than our breathing, there’s not a sound in our world.

“Why don’t you like it when someone touches your hair?” I whisper.

“It’s the only thing that’s mine.”

A shiver runs through me, caused by the timbre of his broken voice. It sounds like the darkness itself is speaking to me.

“How so?” I ask, my words barely audible.

“Everything else I have belongs to someone else, tiger cub. My past. Knowledge and skills. Even my name. I don’t mean it like it’s some figure of speech, either. None of those are mine.”

“I don’t understand.”

He must tilt his head to the side, because I feel his chin brush my cheek. “I know.”

“Can you explain? How can a person’s name belong to someone else.”

“Some things you’re better left not knowing.” He bends and slowly lowers my legs to the floor.

The hallway lights, triggered by the movement, flick to life, and I have to blink to adjust to the sudden brightness. My stranger takes my hand and, raising it to his lips, just barely brushes my fingers with his mouth. I’m still trying to draw a breath when he steps back and locks his gaze with mine. “Sleep well, cub.”

I follow him with my eyes as he walks down the hallway, his huge frame making the space appear much narrower than it is. For a fraction of a moment, he stops at the end and glances back at me, and then, disappears around the corner.

Chapter 11