Today’s #1lineWed theme has so many different directions it could go. Today’s snippet comes from the new words added to MOONSTRUCK: LIES. It’s a turning point for Nate and Jacey.
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She lay beneath him. Tense. Still a little angry. Not at Hannah or Mac. At him. He understood. He was a huge asshole. First he all but forced himself on her then ignored her. Refused to share her bed, even though every part of him ached to hold her. He had issues. What he’d done, what had been done to him? The scars were so fucking deep he’d never be able to heal.
“Stop thinking.”
He opened his eyes, stared down at her face.
“You aren’t a monster, Nate. You won’t hurt me. Not physically, anyway.”
Choking back a snarl, he studied her. Her blue eyes were narrowed in consternation, a deep vee forming between her furrowed brows. Her lips pursed as if she was holding back a torrent of words.
“What’s that mean?”
“Do you love me?”
He tried to form words, to work his mouth so they would come out. Nothing happened.
She lowered her gaze and her face crumpled with the disappointment rolling through her. Her voice toneless, she said, “I see.”
No. She didn’t see. She couldn’t.
Jacey pushed at his chest. “Get off me, Nate.” He didn’t move so she pushed harder. “You don’t want to be here. Touching me. You don’t love me. You might not be able to hit me, or hurt me some other way physically, but just looking at you? Watching you ignore me? Ignoring what we have? That shreds my heart. And I can’t do this any more.”
Tears gathered behind her eyelids. He could smell the saltiness and…there was another scent lingering. Like damp, moldy earth or an old empty house. Resignation. She was giving up on him. On them. Did he blame her?
His wolf threatened to rip out of his skin and he growled, curling his fingers in the bed comforter to keep his claws from touching her. She couldn’t leave him. She was his mate. Didn’t she know that?
Cool skin cupped his cheeks. Warm lips touched his mouth and words feathered across his soul like moth wings.
“Breathe, Nate. Shhh. I’m here. Just breathe.”
His arms shook with the effort to keep his body off hers.
“Baby, look at me.”
He opened his eyes. Jacey. Calm. Collected. Love shining in her eyes.
“Come home to me, Nate.”
“Home.” He remembered now. Remembered that she was the best part of him. Remembered that he’d survive only in her arms. He relaxed. Lowered himself until his body covered hers. He inhaled deeply. Her scent, filled with sunshine and green grass, swept through him, forcing back the shadows haunting him. This is what comfort meant.
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Have you any comforting words to add?
