“You are brash, impatient,” she said as his mouth found her entrance without thought, tongue darting out to taste her. “Willful and stubborn as an ox.”
He clenched his eyes shut as he pressed his tongue into her, tasting, seeking, as if she was capable of giving him the answers about his own nature that he couldn’t find himself. Her next words emerged on something like a moan. “You hide under an exterior of rock. One would think you don’thaveemotions with how little you show them.”
As close as she held him, Arlon couldn’t block out the words. Each one felt like a kick in the stomach, and he started to feel lightheaded from the truths she shot at him, the slow suffocation of her legs. He redoubled his efforts like a plea for mercy, his teeth gently grazing the folds of her cunt. Her hips jumped before he slid his tongue deep again, lips sucking gently.
“You let your ego speak when your rational mind should,” Fawn said, her voice hitching as she ground down against his mouth. “You’ve been called a beast because of your past, and you proved them right.”
He raised his hands, searching for her, but she slapped them away. “Hands behind your back. You can’t hide here.”
Arlon let out a quiet sound of anguish as he obeyed. Heclasped his arms behind him, holding onto his forearms to keep them folded. When she lifted his head, he gasped for breath, his cock aching as he looked up at her through tear-blurred eyes.
“Vicious. Violent. You hit first to avoid giving others the opportunity.”
Arlon quaked, feeling stripped bare by every word. Because the fact was, they were all true. Every. Single. One.
Fawn’s hands cupped his face, and Arlon flinched like he had been torn open. Her level blue eyes met his, her thumbs gentle as she stroked his cheek. She waited until his heaving breaths settled to a stutter before she continued.
“And everything you did…” Her tone had softened, but Arlon braced, holding himself like he expected to be hit. “Everything you did was toprotectyourself, Arlon. Someone who has been struck again and again eventually learns to defend themselves.”
His eyes spilled over, but Fawn didn’t let him pull away. Her lips lifted into a gentle smile, and something in Arlon’s chest unlocked as the torrent of guilt broke free, a rock face giving way to an avalanche.
“You are not a villain,” she said. “You were forced to become one. Hurting is not in your nature.Viciousnessis not in your nature. You are far too good and far too kind for the road you were made to walk down.”
That part of him that sounded like Vian hissed that she was lying. That no whispered assurances could erase the stain left on his soul. The darkness tried to wrap its tendrils around his heart, harden him against the things she said, but it was like Fawn could feel it.
“You are no Wolf.” He didn’t know when he’d torn out of her grip to bury his face against her thigh until she cupped hischin, guiding him up so she could press a kiss against his forehead. “Do you believe me when I say that?”
Arlon grimaced as he met her shining eyes. He had been lied to so many times. Had been conditioned to second-guess every motive, every kindness.
But Fawn was the exception. Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders as she smiled down at him. She had never lied to him. Not even when he hadn’t deserved the truth.
“I believe you.”
Her arms circled him, pulling his head to rest against her as she kissed his hair. “And when I say you are worthy of love, worthy of friendship, do you still believe me?”
Fawn could read him like no one else could. Had seen him at his worst and had brought out his best. If she could see who he was through the stain of his past, then maybe others could, too.
“I believe you.”
5
The next day, Arlon started his search for Garrett and Bridgette all over again. Yet this search ended much quicker when he bumped into the former while turning the corner to the main atrium. Arlon bounced off of his broad chest, but Garrett didn’t so much as budge.
The other man grabbed his arm to steady him, but he let go just as quickly. As if Arlon was a hot pan he was eager to drop. “Shit, sorry.”
“No, my fault,” Arlon said. He tried to grin, but it felt forced. Felt like he didn’t know how to do it right. He gave it up, falling into his usual, comfortable scowl.
“Actually, I’m glad I ran into you,” Garrett said. “I… wanted to be sure you were alright. I was afraid I’d hurt you.”
Arlon’s shoulders relaxed a little. If he cared enough to be concerned, then maybe Garrett didn’tfullyhate him.
“No—no, I’m fine,” Arlon assured him. He forced the next words out on a breath. “I wanted to apologize. I was an ass to you yesterday. To Bridgette, too. I’m sorry.”
Garrett looked him over before he said, “Yeah, well. Youwere the last person we expected to find in the Crux, but there must be a reason Fawn let you in.”
“Yeah, well.”
An awkward silence stretched between them before Garrett broke it. “How’d it happen?”
