Something shifts out of the corner of my watery eye, and I release a harsh breath, my head pounding as my gaze finds the man who survived his throat being slit by his own blood, the man who fled from vicious hounds through dark, deep woods. Large hands tucked into the pockets of his clean sweat pants, water still clings to his shirtless form and drips from his slightly curled hair. His eyes are tight, his chest rising and falling in quick succession.
He’s nervous.
I should be furious with him for putting this target on my back in the first place, but…I simply can’t find the anger where it should be in my heart. We are both victims of circumstance, the fate the stars decided for us. Even though he went about this a completely fucked up and awful way, I still somehow understand him.
It’s probably lucky for him that I am concussed at the moment. Maybe my wrath will come later, when the dust is settled and we’re (hopefully) alive.
Holding up the thick, tattered notebook, my lips pressed thin, I wag it at him and attempt to find my voice. What could I possibly say right now? There are no words to express mysorrow for what he’s endured, no words to fully explain the fury festering in my heart for him wrenching me away from my beautiful—albeit, boring and vapid—life. How does this all end? Even if we escape Carter, Kage will still be held accountable for kidnapping me and keeping me hostage.
“I don’t…” I begin, my throat coated in a layer of phlegm from my tears earlier. Clearing the blockage, I set the book across my bare thighs and grip the cool spiral rings with my fingers. “I don’t know what to say. I’ve never been the best with words…especially right now,” I say, pointing to my aching head as I release a hollow laugh.
He swallows hard and drops his eyes, his teeth grinding and jaw flaring. My heart aches at his beauty, at the darkness that spills from his soul. This isn’t his fault. Maybe there’s still time to right the ship before it crashes against the jagged rocks of an imposing cliff.
I’ve never believed in a god or some higher power. I believe the universe puts us where we’re needed at precise times, and perhaps that’s why I’m here.
Perhaps I’ve finally found my purpose in life.
And maybe it has everything to do with saving this man who’s never been given another choice. If I must be his light in the darkness, then so be it. As the puzzle pieces click into place, a smile forms on my lips.
“Kage.”
His face snaps up, his eyes so earnest, his brokenness spilling from the depths of his tortured, sweet soul. When he notices my smile, his brows furrow slightly, and his spine slowly straightens.
My smile grows.
“Let’s take this fucker out. Together.”
He strides across the room and falls to his knees before me, trembling hands finding my hips as tears form in his eyes andspill down his cheeks. The book slumps to the ground between us when I reach out to grasp his face between my hands, swiping those crystalline tears from his perfect face.
I wonder if this is how the goddesses of mythology felt when worshipped, but I somehow think the way Kage holds my gaze with such reverence is better—far more powerful. I could drink it in for eternity, and I think I’m going to when this is all said and done. Swiping my thumb across his high cheekbone, I smile.
“You don’t have to fight alone anymore,” I say, voice hoarse. His lips quiver with the force it takes him to hold in a sob. Leaning in, I press my forehead to his and stare into his clear, light brown eyes, memorizing the shade and pattern of his irises. “Whenwe survive, though, I’m paddlingyourass for putting me through this.”
We both release shaky laughs—his silent—grinning amidst an impending storm. He nods, beaming up at me, reaching for my face before swiping his fingers across my cheeks and spearing them into my curls.
And when he kisses me this time, I don’t fight him.
I surrender to the will of what is meant to be and fall deeper in love with the man who stole me—heart, body, and soul.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
KAGE
My heartnormally races whenever I glance at Summer, but now, it feels like it’s flying through the cosmos at the speed of light, soaring to new heights every time her bare skin brushes against mine. We lie under the thick blankets on my bed, Poppy curled at the end near Summer’s feet. After dinner and some pain meds for her concussion, she crawled onto the mattress and slipped quickly into sleep, muttering promises about planning ways to murder my brother.
Her humor is a deflection for her underlying fear, but I won’t begrudge her whatever it takes to get us through this next phase.
Summer shifts in her sleep, letting out a harsh sigh before sinking deeper into the blankets and shivering.
“Can’t you use that massive body of yours and keep me warm?” she grumbles into the pillow. My shoulders shake with a silent chuckle, and I roll onto my side, slipping my hand to her bare hip. She’s remained naked and hasn’t shown an ounce of demureness. I’m not about to complain, either; I love seeing the purple and indigo bruises on her ass, and the budding maroon ones between her pretty thighs. Summer will never need tattoos, because she will always bear the markings of my obsession for her in some way or another.
She rolls her shoulders haughtily and glares at me through slitted eyes. “Do you seriously not know how to cuddle? Spoon me.”
Spoon?I don’t understand her meaning, but I like the way she’s bossing me around. When I don’t move, she softens, reaching behind herself to grip the waistband of my sweatpants. My dick immediately twitches to an almost-full erection.
It’s been half-hard the entire time we’ve been in bed together, but I know her body needs a break.
“Put your hips against my butt and your arms around me and hold me. Please.” She tacks on at the end, her voice coated in a thick layer of exhaustion. A flare of nervousness courses through me, but I obey, scooting closer to her until her backside is pressed to my front. I like the way she fits so snugly against me, and when I wrap her in my arms and tuck my face into her thick, fragrant curls, I’m rewarded with a prompt, loud snore ripping through her dainty nose.
