Freak of Nature - By Julia Crane Page 0,58
I have all of these upgrades and skills that I could put to use. There is so much bad in the world, maybe I can help. Even if just a little. This is who I am, Lucas, and we should use it for good.”
He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “We can’t hand you over, they’ll just use you as a weapon. I need to think this over. If we can get Harrington to keep you… I just have to make him understand. We’ll have to tell him that you have emotions and your own thoughts, Kate.”
“That’s fine. I’m sick of hiding who I am. I’m sick of all the lies.”
He stood, coming to sit beside her, his hands gently cupping her face as if she were made of glass. “If we can’t convince Harrington, we’ll run away together. I’m not losing you again, Kate. I was going crazy without you.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.” He tugged her into a tight hug, resting his head on hers as she leaned into him. The cat jumped off her lap and ran out of the room.
“I need a shower and change of clothes. But right now, I just want to sit here with you, if that’s okay?” Kaitlyn asked.
“More than okay.”
“Has the guard entered the house?”
“No, he just sits out there all day and night. They switch shifts at nine.”
“Useless.”
“I think it makes Harrington feel like he’s doing something. He’s going crazy.”
She pulled away to look into his eyes. “Can we wait till tomorrow to talk to Harrington?”
“Absolutely.” Lucas entwined his hand in Kaitlyn's and slowly rubbed his thumb along her knuckles. “Anything for you. Besides it’s Sunday anyway.”
When he leaned down and kissed her, Kaitlyn sank against him, comforted by his presence, the feel of his chest beneath her fingertips. It had been a long couple of days, and in the end, she was where she belonged.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Lucas whistled as he tossed Kaitlyn’s clothes in the washing machine and dumped a cup of detergent inside. Everything will be okay, he told himself. Somehow, they would work it out. He wouldn’t hesitate to run away with Kate if that was what it came down to, and that fact alone brought a sense of calm to him. He would do anything to keep her safe.
Even if it meant walking away from everything he knew.
He paused, staring at the way the leftover detergent pooled in the bottom of the cup. Wasn’t that exactly what they had done to her? They had stripped her of everything that made her ‘Cassidy’ the night she lost her life.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her walk into the kitchen. She was wrapped in a grey towel that matched her eyes… and nothing else. Just the sight caused his heart to pound and his breathing to change. He put the cap back on the detergent and shut the door to the washer, but forgot to hit Start.
“Feel better?” he asked, unable to tear his gaze away.
Her hair was wet and tousled. She looked fresh-faced and innocent. Gone was the blank stare he had expected from her for so long, replaced with a look of wide-eyed wonder. She had been stuck on the compound for so long, it must have been such a stark contrast to be free, to see all the things, the knick knacks and belongings that make up a person’s home. Freedom looked so unlike her bland room on the compound. He wanted to be the one to share in her newfound freedom. There was so much for her to explore and learn. He smiled at the thought of being by her side to experience it with her.
The sight of her bare shoulders was too much. The way she clutched the towel pushed her breasts up, spilling cleavage over the top. His mind started speeding down a road he knew should be left alone. At least for now. She wasn’t ready to take their relationship to that level. Not yet.
He cleared his throat. “I left you some clothes in the bathroom.”
“I saw them.” She smiled sweetly and crossed the room until she was a few feet away.
Without another word, Kaitlyn dropped the towel and stood before him, unflinching. There wasn’t a hint of modesty or self-consciousness. She was breathtaking. Her body was strong and yet still feminine with curves that begged to be touched.
Lucas clenched his hands, focusing on deep breaths as his body responded to her. “Kate, what are you doing?”
She stepped forward, her