No Time for Caution by K. T. Samois

Author:K. T. Samois [Samois, K. T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-05-01T05:00:00+00:00

***

“Yes”, he admits, and it feels like glass shards in his mouth.

Trust is weakness, is a pain point, is exploitable. It’s also easy to abuse.

“I do. I don’t trust people… but I do trust you. God help me.” He takes a breath, knowing that he’s just given her a huge weakness to exploit. He drags his hand through his hair and feels a bit like he’s waking up from sleep, dazed and caught off-guard.

“And you’re right,” he admits. “About the question of what to do next. I… am open to suggestions.”

It grinds against his ego like sandpaper, but it soothes his raw nerves when Ree puts her coffee down.

“Okay,” she tells him. “Okay. We can think of something.”

Riona sidles in his lap to kiss him. There’s no heat behind it, no intent, just a gentle forgiveness. “I know that was hard for you, but it means the world to me to hear you say it. Is there anything else you need to tell me?”

He hesitates, and her hand cups his cheek. It’s cool, and soft, and gentle as ever.

“Hardin,” Ree murmurs, and her mouth says his name, but her tone says his title. “Is it important?”

“Nothing that affects us.” He can see her eyebrow raise, but even with her tenderness, he still feels run a bit ragged.

“It isn’t. I swear it, Riona. It’s just… about my past. When I was younger. It’s nothing to affect us, just… unhappy memories I’d rather not burden you with.” He can’t look up from the ground; he can’t bear to look at her after this nightmare he’s brought in her life.

She seems to anticipate that and slides from his lap to kneel at his feet. Now he has nowhere to look but at her. With that advantage in hand, she rests her cheek against his thigh.

“Dad says a burden shared’s a burden lessened… but I understand. And I’m sorry, as well. I got mad at you dismissing my expertise, but I disregarded yours. I shouldn’t have applied without letting you know. It’s just… I want you to do well. Us to do well.” Ree exhales a shuddering breath, and then nods.

“I know it couldn’t have been easy to tell me about your past, but thank you for telling me. It means a lot, Hardin.”

He doesn’t dare touch her without permission, but he can extend an invitation.

“Kitten”, Hardin says, voice rough with emotion. “Come here.”

She surges back up into his lap like water into a vase; within moments, she’s filled every available space she can find. A cloud of red hair. The smell of sleep-warm skin. The hint of yesterday’s perfume and his cologne. The warmth of coffee and of something that is inimitably Riona. All of it — all of her — is his. And she could have died, yesterday.

He presses a firm kiss to her hair, cradling her close as he can.

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