Luminous by Corrina Lawson

hands on his shoulders. He clenched his teeth and wondered how to get out of this without making her feel like a freak.
    “You must be really hard up to want me.” She stepped back.
    “I’d think it was the other way around.”
    “What?”
    “In the whole scheme of things, I’m no prize, Noir. I’m a cranky son of a bitch.”
    “You’re honest,” she said, her voice low. She came closer again and pressed herself against him. Her fingers wandered along his shoulders. “You’re strong.”
    “I’m tactless is what I am. And I haven’t been strong enough to clean up this city.”
    “I spent years with people who treated me like I didn’t exist. One day with you, Al, and I’m alive again. Like I just woke up from a dream.”
    “I’m no one’s idea of a fantasy.” He tried hard not to move. He knew he shouldn’t be doing this.
    “Make me feel alive, Al.”
    He felt her warm breath on his neck. He cupped her face in his hand again and kissed her.
    He’d probably be damned someday for this, but that was someday. This was now, and her lips were open and inviting and soft and…
    This couldn’t be right.
    He tightened his grip around her waist and held her at arm’s length. “Dammit, I’m a rumpled, cynical cop. If you were normal, you wouldn’t take a second look at me.”
    “I wouldn’t have, especially not with you wearing that awful overcoat that hides you.” She closed the space between them once more and ran her hands over his chest. “Good thing you’re not wearing it now.”
    She kissed him this time. He closed his eyes, and he was able to see her clearly in his mind’s eye. He stroked her neck. She moaned, a sound that traveled from her mouth into his.
    He broke the kiss. Dammit. She had come to him for help. She didn’t even remember who she really was. Her memory was damaged. He could be taking advantage of her. Lousy time to have a conscience, Al.
    “Didn’t like what you felt?” she asked.
    He heard the hurt in her voice. If he pulled away, she’d believe it was because she was a “freak”. She wouldn’t believe the truth. “No, I just wanted to even us up.” He unknotted his tie and handed it to her. “Put this over my eyes.”
    “So you don’t get freaked out at what you’re touching?”
    He winced. He hadn’t expected her to take it that way. No one ever accused him of being a sweet talker. “No, the blindfold is so I can concentrate only on touching you. My hands will see everything that needs to be seen. That’s where I want my focus to be.”
    And it would put her in charge. She’d control the encounter, not him. If she wanted to walk away, she could. This way, he wasn’t taking advantage. This was entirely her choice.
    He didn’t think she wanted to walk away, though.
    “Lean your head down a minute,” she said softly.
    He swallowed and did as she asked. He felt her fingers in his hair as she put the tie over his eyes and knotted it in the back. For once, he was glad he spent real money when buying a tie. The silk felt better against his face than scratchy polyester would have.
    When she was done, she took his hands in hers and set them on her face.
    “Look at me now, Al.”
    His hands roamed gently over her face. He was seeing her as a blind man would. He felt every contour of her cheekbones, traced her lips with his thumb, tickled her earlobe with his forefinger. Never had anything felt so alive under his touch. She trembled. He hoped that was in a good way.
    Her nose was small and sharp. He traced her eye sockets and felt the brush of the fine hair of her eyebrows. His hands slid to the sides of her neck. Her pulse was hammering against her skin. He let his mouth rest against her cheek.
    He took a deep breath. “You smell good.”
    “Thanks.”
    He entangled his hand in her hair. It was soft and fine. He imagined it was wavy, unruly to match her nature. Dark brown or black, he thought. “It barely reaches your shoulders,” he whispered.
    “It’s too