Chapter Twelve
Waking up in Owen’s bed was both pleasant and surprising. So, Owen carrying me to bed hadn’t been a dream after all… I took my time dozing in his clean, crisp sheets, wishing he would join me, then spent a good part of my morning walking around campus with a ridiculous smile on my face.
Unlike Owen, who had forgotten how to smile.
He insisted on accompanying me everywhere.
While I taught, he stood near the front of the lecture hall, watching my students like he expected a wraith to materialize in their midst. At the library, he sat across the table, not one book in front of him, continuously scanning the quiet aisles and study carrels around us.
When a librarian accidentally dropped a book, Owen turned his glare in her direction, and I thought she might have a stroke.
I finally threw a newspaper in front of him and told him to at least pretend to read.
Owen even accompanied me to my weekly meeting with my academic adviser.
He strode past me into her office and proceeded to scan every corner of the room, while Dr. Ruth Billings lowered her glasses to the end of her nose and regarded Owen as she did all her students: with a touch of exasperation, a bit of tolerance, and a great deal of suspicion.
“Young man. Who are you and what are you doing in my office?” Her steel-grey hair, cut neatly to her chin, swayed as she pierced Owen with a steady gaze that would have done Charles proud.
I was forced to tell her a version of the truth: that I had been attacked twice in as many days, and Owen was a bodyguard assigned to protect me until the perpetrators were caught.
Dr. Billings nodded once, pursed her lips, and then declared her office free from any such offenders.
She held the door open for him in a clear dismissal. And that was that.
As the morning wore on, however, I grew increasingly irritated with the looks Owen, or rather his scars, received.
The reactions varied in subtlety but all contained some degree of shock, horror, or pity.
Most would try not to stare, their eyes flickering over him then darting away the moment he noticed.
A few smiled too brightly as if trying to prove they were not uncomfortable.
Other people pretended not to see him. Only a few, such as Dr. Billings, seemed to look past his scars and see the man beneath.
Instead of gawking, they met his gaze steadily, as if sensing the weight of what he must have endured.
But those people were few and far between. I started to wonder if Owen’s prickly demeanour wasn’t entirely due to his line of work and was also a form of self-preservation. If he glared first and hard enough at those around him, he could make them drop their gazes.
I dropped my smile instead and started glaring at everyone.
At one point, when I caught a man staring in outright horror at his scars, I wrapped my arm around Owen’s waist and pulled him to my side.
Eventually, the man’s eyes slid to mine and whatever he saw there had him blushing and nodding apologetically.
I didn’t let up my angry glare until he disappeared around a corner.
A low chuckle came from Owen’s chest. “Easy there, tiger. It’s nothing new.”
“It’s despicable. Where’s their basic human decency?”
“I think you have enough for everyone.”
Owen’s glare softened after that, and I caught him smiling more.
When Shae texted that her lunch break would be delayed due to a last-minute meeting, we decided to hit the university gym before meeting her.
Owen had warned me, after all, that he couldn’t let his workouts slide.
I was happy to join him; my brain was foggy from reading, and I felt the need to move.
And with strange men and shadowy wraiths launching surprise attacks, it was best to stay fit.
Plus, who knew what veil walking required?
We chose treadmills next to each other, inserted our earbuds, and started walking. Before long, we were running side by side, and I became lost in my music and the rhythm of my feet, revelling in the rush of power I felt whenever I ran.
I glanced at Owen, who was staring straight ahead, his muscles tensing and releasing in a steady cadence, controlled power behind every stride.
He looked at me and increased his speed.
I upped mine as well.
He turned up his incline.
I followed suit, going one above his as a matter of course.
We were both grinning now, casting quick, competitive glances at each other. A silent race had begun, and we were both too stubborn to be the first to ease off.
This was fun, I realized. Running with someone was a joy I’d never experienced. Todd had always hated it and refused to join me. He wasn’t fond of animals, either. Did he and I have anything in common? I frowned and pushed Todd from my mind.
I needed to focus on beating Owen.
Eventually, however, I slowed to a walk, gasping for air. “You win,” I managed to say.
“Just in time. I was about to pull the emergency clip.” Owen’s breaths came hard and fast as he slowed down, too.
“You were not.” I laughed. “You looked like you could have kept going.”
“If that’s what you think, who am I to argue?” He winked, and I felt heat on my cheeks that had nothing to do with running.
We spent the next thirty minutes lifting weights, spotting each other, and discussing our favourite exercises. It was the most enjoyable hour I’d ever spent in a gym.
“We’d better get cleaned up so we can meet your friend,” Owen said, returning his dumbbells to the rack as I sat on a mat, stretching my glutes.
I took his offered hand, and he pulled me up, but I lost my balance and stepped forward, accidentally closing the gap between us.
Owen’s gaze settled on my face, and whatever he saw there caused his pupils to widen, the blue around them darkening to obsidian.
His eyes lingered like he was memorizing every line, every curve, then they dropped to my lips and the pulse in his throat jumped.
The world narrowed to the inch of space between us.
His hand rose, hesitated, then cupped my face with a tenderness that made my heart ache.
I almost leaned into his touch, but then my old fears, ugly and sharp, slipped in and reminded me of what came next. I would give too much of myself, too soon, and Owen would leave.
I drew back, breaking the spell.
Owen froze, his hand half raised, confusion and hurt flickering in his eyes.
“Sorry,” he muttered, the muscle in his jaw tightening before he stepped back.
“I thought, after the way you defended me earlier…” He rubbed his eyes, then turned away to grab a towel.
“Please forget what just happened. I read it all wrong.”
Regret churned within me. Owen had shown me that he was different from Todd.
I already trusted him with my life. Could I trust him with my heart?
Perhaps I could protect myself by only giving Owen a piece of it?
But I knew that would be impossible. Owen was a man who didn’t do anything halfway.
He would love with his entire being and expect nothing less in return.
I wanted to give him everything. I just wasn’t sure if I could.
“No, Owen, I’m sorry,” I said, wrapping my arms around my middle. “I’m a mess, and you deserve so much better.”
He turned back to me, his expression full of disbelief. “Whatever gave you the idea that you are not exactly what I deserve?”
I stayed silent, staring at his chest.
“Look at me.”
I raised my eyes. The intensity of his gaze made my breath catch.
“Have I ever given you the impression that I don’t know exactly what I want?”
I shook my head, eyes wide.
“Do I seem like a man who would settle or allow myself less than I deserve?”
I shook my head again.
“Good. Because I know what I deserve, and it’s you.”
My eyes grew wet with unshed tears as a weight lifted from my shoulders.
He stepped towards me, and I had to tilt my chin to meet his gaze. “So, listen carefully, Kira, because I want you. All of you. And we can go as slow or as fast as you like, but if you tell me right here, right now to back off, I will, and we’ll never speak of this again.”
I swallowed, too stunned to immediately reply. The thought of him backing off troubled me even more than the knowledge that one day he would leave. He was already a steady presence by my side. I wanted Owen in my life, even if only for a short time.
“I’m scared,” I whispered.
His eyes softened. “I know. But let go of whatever it is you’re carrying, Kira, and hold on to me.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because we’ve only just met, and everything is happening so fast. I like you, Owen, but…”
“But what?”
“But Todd swept me off my feet in a whirlwind romance. He took me to expensive, romantic dinners and lavished me with gifts. And then he cheated. So many women wanted him, but he chose me. I felt important. Loved. But I was wrong. I can’t let myself get hurt like that again.
And you’re…” I swallowed, staring at his chin.
His hand tightened on the towel. “I’m what?”
“You’re even more handsome,” I whispered, raising my eyes to his.
He drew back in surprise. “I am?”
I finally smiled. “Oh, Owen. You have no idea, do you?”
“I guess I don’t. But I’m glad to hear that.” A wide grin spread across his face. “But why is being more handsome a bad thing?”
“Because I already like you more than I ever liked Todd.”
“More good news.” He cupped my cheek again, and this time I leaned into his touch.
“I want to know you better, Kira. No fancy dinners or gifts. I want to spend time with you, and not just as your bodyguard. I have no idea what the future holds for us, but right now I’m staring at a woman who consumes my every thought. Are you going to tell me to back off?”
He seemed to hold his breath.
I considered his question, and for the first time in a long while, I didn’t want to dwell in the past, and I didn’t want my past to dictate my future.