Marking Lia (2)

“Oh Lyris,” Hayes said in a strained voice. “But I can't. I—” He closed his eyes. His muscles were corded and it was clear that he was suffering. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Lyris reached out to him and captured his jaw in her hand. “I want you to look at me,” she said in a raspy voice. He opened his eyes and looked at her. There was so much sincerity in his eyes that her heart stuttered at the si