Chapter 10 #3
“Good.” Angelo pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“For the record, I want you here. I want to protect you because I want you with me. But I also want to protect you as a woman. Just like I would any other woman. You deserve safety, peace and freedom to live your life. I can want to do something for two reasons at the same time.”
“I understand.” Kara sniffed and brushed tears away from her eyes. “I just didn’t want to be any trouble or to put you at any more risk.”
“You won’t and even if you do, you’re worth it.
Roarke has a security team watching over us.
Nothing will get past them.” He could see she didn’t believe that, and he couldn’t blame her.
She’d spent her entire life not being able to depend on anyone except her mother.
He couldn’t imagine having to live through that.
No family, no friends, not even a life of her own.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
She started to shake her head.
“Please let me cook for you,” he begged. He would feel better knowing if she had food in her stomach.
“All right,” she feigned a suffering sigh but there was a hint of merriment back in her eyes, and the color was returning to her cheeks.
“What sounds good? I can cook you anything.”
“I can just eat some leftovers—”
“Kara, you wound me.” He leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose. “What about pancakes?”
“Pancakes sounds nice,” Kara replied shyly.
“It’s cold in the kitchen, you should put this on.”
Angelo helped Kara stand up, and she gratefully accepted the sweatshirt he handed her. She was missing her coat and didn’t know where he’d put hers.
She stared at the sweatshirt a moment longer.
“I also like to see you wearing my clothes,” Angelo added in that deep, slightly husky voice that reminded him all too well of last night. That warmed her up far more than any sweatshirt could.
Kara appreciated his help since her hand still stung fiercely.
She’d been such a fool to try to climb out the window.
She hadn’t expected it to crash down and shatter the glass, or for her hand to be caught on the glass as it did so.
All because she had thought getting away as fast as possible would save her from hearing more of the conversation that had torn her apart.
As she slid the sweatshirt on and breathed in Angelo’s scent, she felt the weight of his gaze on her. Kara blushed as their eyes met, but his brown eyes were soft and warm with some emotion she couldn’t quite name, but it sent her heart fluttering madly.
“We can wait a few more minutes, if you need time,” he said.
How could he know so easily what she might need?
“I think I’ll be okay,” she let out a controlled breath then nodded at him to proceed into the kitchen ahead of her.
“Forgive my friends for their… opinions,” he said as he hesitated by the bedroom door.
“It’s okay, Angelo. I understand. Really, I do.
” It was just that those opinions had hurt her.
She’d never let herself be in a position to get hurt like that before.
She’d always kept to herself, focused on the next town, the next life she’d assume.
She didn’t make friends, she didn’t have boyfriends.
Yet the moment she’d slept with Angelo she’d started to develop feelings for him.
His best friends who were as close as brothers to him, according to his family, thought she was a danger to him and not worth protecting.
That hurt so damn much.
He put his hands on her shoulders, then cupped her face instead, his eyes burning as he looked down her.
“They all have women in their lives, women they love. I’ve watched it happen, watched them find joy.
Now it’s my turn, and maybe I’m a fool, but I think you’re mine, Kara.
I think you belong here with me. I’m going to do whatever I can to make you safe, to give your life back so that you can choose to be with me if you feel the same about me.
” He stroked his thumb over her bottom lip.
Kara couldn’t move as he lowered his head and then it was easy, so natural, to be kissed by him. The feel Angelo’s mouth coaxing hers into her response stirred that life to fire within her again.
“You say the most wonderful thing sometimes,” she murmured against his lips. “Wonderful and a little scary.”
“I never want to scare you, Kara.” He nuzzled her nose with his.
She leaned closer into him, gladly relying on the strength of his arms and his soft breath against her cheek. “It’s just… I’m not used to this, feeling so much or having so much to lose.”
“Then let me be here for you, let me lend you my strength,” he kissed her again. “Trust me, principessa. Trust me.”
For a moment she just let herself feel, let her heart feel, instead of her head dominating everything. She did trust him, she realized with some surprise and no small amount of fear.
“I do.”
God help her, she did trust him, but the fear of father’s men was a black cloud that drew ever nearer. When it came to keeping Angelo safe, she knew she might have to leave, even if he didn’t want her to, even if it broke her heart.