Shadow of Death: Book Two of the Chosen Chronicles (34 page)

An exclamation followed by a whimper drew Elizabeth into the room, her heart hammering in her ears. There was no doubt in her mind that her guest was in the throes of a nasty nightmare. Intent to wake him from whatever gripped him, Elizabeth, shocked, stopped still, her hand flying to cover her opened mouth.

In the fleeting moonlight, snaking up and down his back in a tangled mass of silver, thick scars ran riot leaving no flesh untouched, his long white hair splayed against the bands. A shift of shadow turned her attention to his right arm that curled around his head, his face turned away and buried in the pillow. A rope of a scar slid from his shoulder to disappear into the crook of his elbow, marring the strong supple musculature and giving rise to a multitude of silver lines across his pale forearm. Elizabeth
’
s gorge rose at the sight of the wide banded scar encircling his wrist and the raised white blossom in the center of the band. There was absolutely no doubt that he had been viciously tortured.

Swallowing the bile that threatened to overflow, Elizabeth
’
s heart ached as tears threatened to spill. She could not imagine how anyone could do this to another being. A wisp of a thought entered her mind and she shook it away. No. She knew Paul well enough by now to know that he would never raise a hand to another. Working side by side for hours at a time and for several weeks could not hide the true measure of a man, yet doubt still lingered. Oh, the pain he must have endured, and probably at such a young age from the sight of the scars. Tears trickled down her face. It explained so much, and yet, created so many more questions.

A shuddering breath and a whimper made her jump. The nightmare
was still upon him. Without a second thought she placed her hand on his cool shoulder and gave a shake. She had to save him from more pain. It was enough. With a gasp, he rolled over onto his back, eyes wide before freezing over as the dream left his vision and recognition seeped in.

Desiring to dispel the anger tightening his pale features, Elizabeth blurted,
“
You were having a nightmare.
”

The tension leaked out of him and he lowered his eyes.
“
You saw.
”

It was not so much of an accusation, rather a statement of fact. Elizabeth nodded. Glancing at the covers, she noticed they came to his midriff and for the second time she witnessed the scar on his breast, this time matched with the healing red of the lightning burn on his left shoulder. His every line was softly sculpted, long and lean.
Her mind screamed at her that he was more of an age with her daughter
and yet she could not deny the attraction she felt towards the young man. When her eyes found his face again, dejection turned his eyes away as he sat up, the comforter pooling in his lap. Sweeping the stray locks from his face,
Elizabeth noticed his left forearm and wrist bore similar silver disfigurements as his right.

“May I sit?” she asked, her voice but a whisper to her ears.

He gestured with an open hand but did not meet her eyes. Accepting the invitation, Elizabeth sunk down on the mattress, keenly aware that he did not move when her hip rested against his covered leg.

“What do you want, Dr. Bowen?” he asked, sounding very tired.

“Elizabeth,” she implored with a sigh. “I’
ve asked you many times to call me Elizabeth. Why won
’
t you?
”
It had always bothered her that he would not use her given name, she just did not realize how much.

Abashed, he met her gaze before lowering his eyes. There was enough of a wash of moonlight to catch his eyes, momentarily bringing out their crimson. His shoulders slumped in defeat and he sighed.
“
It
’
s easier.
”

“Easier? How?” Not understanding, Elizabeth shook her head. Then it dawned on her as brilliant as the new moonbeam that illuminated his egregious scars
.
“
You rarely use anyone
’
s name. You do it to keep yourself apart from everyone so you cannot be hurt again,
” she blurted without thinking.

Her observation hit hard, snapping his head up, eyes wide with shock and fear. Even his mouth fell open and he closed it with a swallow. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he appeared   defeated.

Elizabeth grimaced. She had not wanted to do this to him. It was then that she clued in. No longer aloof and emotionally unreachable, Elizabeth found she could read him as clearly as any book. She did not consider herself empathic but with him his emotions were written plainly across his face and body. It suddenly made sense why he always appeared closed off. It was another way to keep people out.

“I’
m sorry,
”
she said, realizing that she was banging on the thick walls he had erected.

“No, you’
re right,
”
he whispered, dropping his hand to his lap.

His admission surprised her. Most would flee from her   trebuchet personality. That was why she had only a handful of good friends. Could it be that he was not running when he, more than anyone she had ever known, had reason to rebuke her?

“You still haven’
t answered my question, Doct
–
Elizabeth,
”
he sighed.
He dropped his gaze with a grimace, clearly uncomfortable
with the use of her given name.

Taken with his pronunciation of her name, his accent rolling it into something more, Elizabeth shook her head when she realized she could not recall his question.

A perturbed frown tugged at his full pale lips and he met her blue eyes.
“
What do you want?
”

The question took her aback.
“
You were having a nightmare and I wanted to see if you were alright.
”

“Oh,” he replied, discomforted by her answer.

“Are you okay?” She studied his youthful face as he frowned, wishing she could smooth such unhappiness away with the touch of her hand, but she kept her fingers entwined on her lap. It was clear he was not alright. Drawn by her desire to help, Elizabeth said, “You can talk to me, Gwyn.
Whatever you tell me will be just between us.
”

His breath caught and sadness seeped into his eyes. His pain drew her closer and she did what she had unsuccessfully tried not to do, she caressed the side of his face, surprised at his smooth soft features. He raised his hand to capture hers and Elizabeth moved upward on the bed until she was right in front of him, their thighs touching.

Heart pounding with his touch, she followed his gaze as he lowered their hands to his lap. An unbidden thought blossomed about what lay directly under the covers, sending her heart racing to warm centres of her body that had not been kindled in a long while. Try as she might, she was desperately attracted this younger man.

“I appreciate your offer,” he said quietly, still holding her hand. “I wish I could …” He shook his head and sighed in resignation, his long hair tickling the back of her hand. Meeting her eyes once more, he let go of her hand. “You have been so kind to me.”

Elizabeth froze, waiting for the
“
but
”
to tie his statement to something less pleasant, but when none was forthcoming she relaxed.
“
Whatever I can do to help, I
’
ll do.
”

“I don’
t understand.
”
His voice was filled with quiet misery.

“Understand what?” she pressed, concern tingeing her tones.

“Why you are so nice to me. You’
re Paul
’
s friend.
”

She noticed the slight stutter as he mentioned her co-work and she frowned.
“
I
’
m you
’
re friend too.
”
She rested her hand on his muscular thigh, the covers soft beneath her fingers.
“
How many times did you bring me coffee,  without being requested, when you visited Paul and I as we worked late at night to ensure the exhibit would be ready to open on time? When my car was in the shop, without me needing to ask, you drove me home, every night for a week, on that infernal machine of yours.
”
Elizabeth was rewarded with a subtle rising of his full pale lips. It was the   closest thing to a smile she had ever seen him attempt, and wondered how he would look if he truly smiled.
“
Of course I count you as a friend,
”
she continued.
“
How could I not? I had hoped that you would have counted me as one as well.
”

He was about to protest when she impulsively laid her fingers across his mouth, halting him before a sound was uttered. She was struck by their softness and her boldness, and before she could repress the urge, she replaced her fingers with her lips.

His lips were softer than she expected. At first he did not return the kiss but as she pressed up against him, she felt him return the kiss. She opened her mouth in anticipation of his taste, her tongue running between his lips, seeking entrance.

Abruptly she was pushed away, his hands on her upper arms, holding her steady. The last cloud dissipated and the full moon
’
s brilliance illuminated his pale physique. It was all she could do not to gasp at his pale beauty. Her rapid breath kept time with his and she could make out the mixture of fear and desire on his face. The idea that he was a virgin was dashed to the rocks as Elizabeth could not imagine someone so enticing to be chaste, especially not after that kiss. Yet confusion and fear pinched his brow.

“No strings,” she smiled, hoping to assuage his concerns, and her own.

This is what she wanted, what she had craved since she first saw him walk down the ramp at the airport. Never had she offered this to a man. It was unlike her. Even in her university days there were no such thing as a one night stand because she was already married and a mother. Even when Rudy left her, Elizabeth only gave herself when a relationship was solid, and that was very rare. But with this beautiful man before her, his pain written with the ink of his scars and the sadness in his face, Elizabeth cast her inhibitions to the wind.

Leaning in, she kissed him again, slowly, gently, her heart racing in her ears. This time he yielded to her penetration and as their tongues caressed tension between them snapped. Suddenly, it was his tongue that thrust into her, tasting her.

Elizabeth was barely aware of anything except the heavy pressure of his lips as he sucked and pulled at hers, trying desperately to consume her as she tried to do the same to him. He tasted so good, their mouths finding one another over and over, greedily attacking one another and she wanted more, much more. The burning deep in her belly screamed out to be filled.

Hands, both hers and his, tore away her robe in desperate need. A gasp escaped as he trailed bruising kisses down her neck to suckle on her pulse. A groan of frustration vibrated against her skin before he found her mouth once more. This time she met his violent passion with her own. Grabbing his hair, she yanked his head back to deliver unto him what he had done to her, but stopped at the ferocity of his glare.