The Brightest Night (Origin #3) - Jennifer L. Armentrout Page 0,58

the bed, wearing one of Luc’s borrowed shirts as I tried to comb all the tangles out of my hair in the bedroom lit by several candles and lanterns. While Luc showered, I thought about something else Kat and Dee had told me, something that had taken a back seat after their warning and Nate’s appearance.

Luc was like a fireproof safe, and I wanted to crack the lock on him. He was always about me, focused on what I was going through or how I was feeling. It was like a full-time job for him, and that wasn’t fair. I wanted him to be able to lean on me like I—

Coherent thoughts took a mini vacay when Luc exited the bathroom, a pair of sweats hanging indecently low on his hips as he rubbed a towel over his hair.

“Peaches,” Luc murmured as he lowered the towel. “You’re going to make me blush.”

I was definitely blushing as I got back to combing out my hair. “I don’t know how you can last so long in the cold water.”

“Skill.” He tossed the towel to the hook on the bathroom door. He had to have used the Source to have made that work. “You know, if you’d like to take a warm bath next time, I could make that happen.”

Lowering the comb, I looked over at him and all I saw was a steaming bath. “How?”

“We could run the water, and then I heat it up with the Source.”

I stared at him. “Why are you just now suggesting that?”

“Didn’t really think of it until now.” Soft shadows danced over his face and shoulders as he prowled toward the bed. “The shower would be too tricky. I imagine once you start working with the Source, you’ll be able to heat up your own baths.”

My gaze shifted to the bathroom, and dreams of hot baths danced like sugarplums in my mind. If I asked Luc to heat a bath, he’d do it right now, so I knew he’d do it for me tomorrow. The request was already forming on the tip of my tongue.

You’ll be able to heat up your own baths.

Asking Luc would be so easy, but doing it myself would be so much more fulfilling.

Luc sat in front of me. “What are you thinking?”

Returning to combing out the tangles, I said, “I want to do it myself.”

“Okay.”

“It could be a goal, you know? Like something to work toward,” I continued. “And it works like a reward, too.”

“It does.”

“So, we start tomorrow, right?”

“We do,” he replied after a few moments. “Daemon recommended a place I think would be good and safe.”

Relief almost caused me to drop the comb. “I thought…”

“You thought I wasn’t going to push back.” Damp hair fell to the side as he leaned down onto his elbow.

I nodded, lowering the comb. “I know you’re not looking forward to the idea of hurting me, and I know you tried to train Micah and the other kids.”

“Someone’s been talking.”

“Someone other than you.” I tapped the comb against his arm.

Tipping his head back, he caught the comb. “I did try to train them, and in the end, I think I just made things worse.”

“You couldn’t have known what they would do.”

“I couldn’t have known what they wouldn’t do,” he added, tugging the comb free from my fingers. “But you’re not them. I won’t be thinking of them while we work together.”

“You promise?”

He tossed the comb aside. “Yes.”

I wasn’t sure if I believed him or not. I knew what had happened with the Origins had carved a deep wound in him. “If you did think of them, it would make sense. No one could fault you for that.”

“I know, Peaches. I’m more worried about hurting you than any bad memories that may or may not surface.”

“But I’m more worried—” I gasped as Luc moved with the kind of speed I just couldn’t track.

He was suddenly in front of me, on his knees. Gripping my hips, he tugged me onto my back. In the span of a heartbeat, he had me under him. “Sorry,” he said, keeping his weight braced on one arm. “But you looked like you needed a Luc-size blanket.”

My pulse thrummed as I placed my hand on his chest. “You’re trying to distract me.”

“I would never.” His voice was full of mock outrage, even as he eased some of his weight onto mine.

The next breath I took was shallow. Neither of us were wearing much, especially me with just his shirt and undies,