“Head home. Get some rest.”
She nodded, casting a final glance at Kiara before picking up the empty pizza boxes and the two cans.
“Night, beautiful,” Kevin murmured, picking up Kiara’s hand and giving it a soft kiss before laying it back on top of the duvet. He lowered his head to me before he left the room, shutting the door behind him.
I locked it before going over to the bed. The cut along her forehead was almost gone. Her long lashes touched her face lightly, her plump lips looking as fucking kissable as ever. I took hold of her chin, rubbing my thumb along them whilst taking a long drag on my cigarette with the other.
I missed her. Despite her being right there, I fucking missed her voice, her touch, her embrace… just her.
I turned away from her, trying to calm the overwhelming emotions that threatened to take over, the guilt returning with a vengeance. I stubbed the cigarette out, leaving it in the little ashtray, and headed to the bathroom, placing Dante’s necklace on the drawer next to Kiara’s rings. Maybe a shower would relieve some of the fucking tension I was feeling. Who was I fucking kidding? Until I found that bastard, killed him, and fixed all this, I couldn’t relax.
I stripped, getting into the shower and letting the water run down my tattooed body. I closed my eyes, bracing my hand on the wall, and rested my forehead against the cool tiles.
It had been years since that feeling of uselessness and being a fucking failure had returned to me… ever since Raf’s death… and it was fucking back. Maybe I had gotten too soft. Sure, I trained a little less now that I had a family, but if I was going to be at my best, then I needed to become stronger, needed to fucking do better… I had slipped and gotten far too relaxed.
I almost punched the wall, barely controlling myself as I grabbed the shampoo bottle instead. Twenty minutes later, I stepped out of the shower, grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around my waist as I returned to the bedroom after brushing my teeth. I walked over to the curtains, shutting them completely before I grabbed some sweatpants and pulled them on, towelling my hair. I tossed the towel to the ground and walked over to the bed. Moving the duvet back, my eyes raked over her luscious curves that made my dick twitch. Fuck, she was out cold, or as Raihana insisted- simply asleep, and I was still fucking unable to stop myself from checking her out. I got into the bed, and, gently lifting her head, I slid my arm under it and tugged her close.
A soft sigh escaped her, and I smirked, pulling her against me. Her body moulded against mine perfectly as I kissed her neck softly. The smell of blood and smoke lingered, yet it was overpowered by her intoxicating scent. I squeezed her ass before hugging her tightly.
Wake up, Amore Mio…
I couldn’t sleep, my mind a storm of emotions and thoughts, wondering if there was any progress about the so-called Crimson King. My only grasp on serenity was the woman in my arms. I wasn’t sure when sleep finally came over me, but the first rays of dawn had begun to seep through the crack in the curtain…
Kiara
“Kataleya!” I joltedupright, looking around in the darkness, panic and fear consuming me. Was she okay? Did she get out safely? Where-
Sparks tingled through me when an arm wrapped around me.
“She’s safe.” Alejandro’s soothing voice made my eyes shut in relief. “We’re back home, Amore Mio.”
I let out a shuddering breath of relief, slumping against his chest, my heart pounding rapidly as I clutched onto his arm. Thank the Goddess for that… I needed to see her. I looked around, wondering what time it was. It was still dark, which meant it was still the middle of the night.
Alejandro rubbed my back soothingly, and I turned in his hold, feeling so protected in his strong arms. I kissed his chest softly, my lips brushing one of his pierced nipples making his heart rate spike. I looked up at him.
“I’m glad you got there in time,” I whispered, gazing into his glowing red eyes. In the dark room, they were all I could see.
“You fucking scared me, Amore Mio,” his husky voice admitted.
“I know…” I reached up, cupping his face, the bristles of his stubble prickling my fingertips, a feeling I so loved… “I’m sorry,” I whispered, knowing I worried him.
“Yeah? Well, I’m not letting you off the hook so fucking quickly,” he replied huskily.
Then he was kissing me passionately, deeply, hungrily…
My entire body hummed at his touch, rivets of pleasure rushing straight to my core. His firm yet soft lips dominated mine completely, his hand gripping the back of my neck as his heart thudded as one with mine. I could barely breathe with the overwhelming emotions and love that I was feeling, his and mine intertwined as one. He was here, Kataleya was safe, and we were together…
The moment he squeezed my ass, I broke away, gasping. As much as I wanted him, and that ache in my core was strong, I needed to see my babies first…
“I want to see the kids,” I whispered, cupping his face...
“Sure.” I knew he was smirking from the tone in his voice. I could smell my arousal clinging in the air. “Light,” he said clearly. The lights came on, and I looked into the handsome face of my king. I hugged him tightly, and he stood up, his hands cupping my thighs. “How do you feel?”
“Completely okay, just like I’ve had a good training session,” I replied, frowning as I tried to remember what had happened. All I remembered was pain and fire… then the burning house… Kataleya… I shook my head as he quietly opened the door. “What time is it?” I asked, making him glance over at the clock.
“Near three in the morning.”
“I’ll be quick,” I whispered. He followed as I first went to the girl’s room.
