Julie nodded. “Yeah. I had a mom but she didn’t take very good care of me. I was taken away at an early age. I don’t…” Se paused to lick her lips. “I don’t remember anything about my time with her. I went to the orphanage when I was four.”

“So young.” Coal slipped a hand under her shirt and stroked the skin on her belly. It was comforting rather than sexual.

“It was tough. I’d just start to feel at home and I’d be shipped off to the next family. It’s hard to form bonds and have any type of trust in anyone growing up like that.” She huffed out a breath. “I don’t like to think about it or to hash it up. I hate moaning about what a tough life I’ve had. I’m fighting for a better future. I need to do it on my own two feet.”

Coal inhaled deeply. She heard him swallow thickly. One of his hands cupped her jaw and tilted her face towards him. He lowered his head and looked her deep in the eye. “It is not moaning. It’s talking, confiding. I am honored that you told me about some of your past. I have huge respect that you do not feel sorry for yourself.” He clenched his jaw. “I admire you, Julie. I have a better understanding why you are the way you are…”

She frowned.

“I don’t mean that in a bad way, so please don’t hit me or curse at me.” He smiled. “You are amazing.” He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her. Soft and careful like she was made from delicate porcelain.

She should push him away. Julie wasn’t one for the mushy stuff. It felt nice though. Like maybe he cared. She sighed as he deepened the kiss. It was intimate. It was special. It touched her. Coal pulled away. He used his thumb to trace her lower lip. More of the same intimacy. His eyes shone with emotion. “I could have taken more than one of the other females during the hunt. I chose you.”

“What? C-chose me? What are you saying?” Her mind was still reeling from the kiss. No one had ever kissed her like that.

“I’m saying that I chose you, Julie. I wanted you. I did then and I still feel the same now. I want you to give us a chance.”

He had chosen her? She must’ve been looking at him like he was mad.

Coal smiled and gave a small shake of the head. “There was a female at the drop-off point. She had decided not to take part in the hunt.”

“Jo,” she whispered.