“Things are different now. I care, and I know the others here care, or they wouldn’t worry about you. While I won’t pretend to understand why you feel the way you do because I don’t know what has caused your mistrust of others, I realize that you must have experienced things in your past to make you have such misgivings. I can promise you that no matter what you tell me, no matter what you’ve done in your past, I won’t judge you. I will be your friend, and you can trust me. I’m here any time you want to talk.
Whatever you tell me stays with me. Okay?”
He’d never had a friend? She wanted to cry for him, for what he’d missed out on in life. How could anyone he’d been around not want to be friends with him? But his world hadn’t been the same as hers, and she couldn’t pretend to understand it when she didn’t know anything about it.
Lorent wanted to tell Melony everything about his past, wanted to believe that she truly meant it when she said she wouldn’t judge him, but how could she not? Yet he knew the fact remained that he and Melony would never have a future together unless he told her everything, unless she could forgive him for his past. He could never expect her to love him, trust him, when he refused to trust her. How could they have a relationship if she didn’t know who he really was, accept him for who he was?
“Thank you. I hope one day I can take you up on that offer.”
“Me, too. And, Lorent?”
He turned to her once again.
“I know we haven’t known one another for long, but I’ve never wanted to be with a man like I want to be with you. I hope with all my heart you are my first.”
He sucked in a breath as flames shot through his body, straight to his groin, and he swept down to give her a slow kiss before hesitantly pulling back. He framed her face with his hands. God, she was beautiful on any given day, but the desire that burned in her chocolate eyes and the way her lips were slightly swollen from his kisses was enough to make any man weak in the knees.
“Melony?”
“Yeah?” she whispered.
“Just so you know, if I end up being your first”—and he would if he had anything to say about it—“I’ll also be your last. Do you understand?”
Her full lips formed a cute o, and he barely stopped himself from kissing her again. He didn’t because he doubted his ability to stop again. He wanted her more than he’d wanted anything his entire life, and there were limits to his control.
“Yes. I understand as long as you understand the same goes for you.”
She smiled, covered one of his hands with hers, and gave him a gentle squeeze before turning and making her way back to the table and chairs.
“If you don’t mind, I think we can call it a day. I know we didn’t have a lesson, but since this is our last meeting before Thanksgiving—”
“It’s okay. I’ll think of some questions for you over the holiday, and we can get started on the self-defense on Monday. I’m looking forward to that.
It will be fun.” She smiled.
“Can I walk you home?”
“Yes, but if you don’t mind, I need to see if the Internet will let me on for a few minutes to place an order. I forgot to tell you, but it looks like I’m going to be cutting hair here at Sanctuary.”
He scrubbed his fingers through his hair, and she eyed him as she fiddled with the computer.
Thankfully, it seemed to be in a cooperating mood today, and she was done with her order ten minutes later.
“You know, I could cut your hair if you’d like.”
“I’ll think about it. Thanks.” The thought of her running her fingers through his hair was appealing.
A little too appealing.
She stood, and he followed her to the door and outside.
He walked her home thinking about their conversation at the Learning Center. He was amazed that she wanted him, Lorent the reformed rogue, to be her first. He wanted to tell her she’d be his first, and last, as well. The thought of another man touching her made him angry, made him want to throttle something or someone. If he and Melony ever made love—no, when he and Melony made love—there would never be another for him.
He’d never want another woman. Melony was the only one for him, and he prayed that one day he could redeem himself for his past and be good enough for her.
Chapter Twelve
Thanksgiving came with the first snowstorm of the season, and it was a doozy. Melony sat at the table at Brent and Rindy’s place with her plate and watched as some of the others filled their plates with food and went back for seconds. She’d never seen such a feast. A massive turkey that resembled a pterodactyl, along with a glazed ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes topped with toasted marshmallows, huge biscuits, and various bowls of veggies and fruit, amongst several other dishes, were lined along the island in the kitchen. On a long table sitting next to the island were cupcakes, pies, cookies, and a variety of other sinfully sweet things she couldn’t wait to taste.
Everyone was laughing and chatting. Even Lorent seemed to be making more of an effort than usual to converse with the others. She hadn’t seen him since he’d walked her home from their last lesson—or last non-lesson was more appropriate—but she hadn’t stopped thinking about him once.
Every second that went by, she grew more convinced that Lorent was the man for her, that he was the one she could love for the rest of her life.
That same night, after she’d seen Lorent, Knox had brought her all of the things on her list, and she’d kept herself busy by sorting out the hair supplies from her personal items and setting up her cabin. She’d let him know about the order she’d placed on the Internet, and he assured her that someone would pick it up as soon as it came in. Karen, Rose, Rindy, Janine, and Sherry were all excited about having someone at Sanctuary who could do their hair, and promised that they’d all get their men in for cuts as well, even if they had to threaten bodily harm. She was happy to know she’d have something to do over the winter and beyond, felt better knowing that she would be able to contribute something useful to the encampment.
She smiled as Rose sat next to her with a huge plate of food. Melony didn’t know how she stayed slim and trim, as she’d never seen such a fit woman eat as much as Rose did. Rose hadn’t let Knox change her yet, so it wasn’t due to her lycan metabolism. That was one thing mates could definitely look forward to: never having to watch what one ate again, because of an ultraspeedy metabolism.
She couldn’t imagine being able to eat whatever she wanted whenever she wanted and not have to worry about gaining a pound.
“It must be a bit overwhelming for you to have so many changes in your life in such a short time, and now Thanksgiving with all of us. Are you doing okay?” Rose forked some turkey into her mouth and chewed while she waited for Melony to answer.
“Yes. It has been a little daunting at times, but as I’m sure you’ve noticed, I tend to look on the bright side of things and focus on the pros rather than the cons. Yes, my life has been uprooted, and I’ve learned about things I never thought could exist, but on the other hand, I have a family now and love my new home. How can I be unhappy with that?”
Rose smiled. “I’m glad you are happy. It takes most people more time to adjust. I’m relieved to know you are adapting so well.”
Melony felt like wiggling as Rose continued to watch her. She had a feeling Rose was contemplating asking her something, probably something that would make her uncomfortable. She tried to act as if she didn’t notice her aunt’s indecision, and continued to eat.