Page 44 of Unexpected Complication

I could get as far away from here as possible.

Far enough away Cian couldn’t find me. I wasn’t important enough for him to search too long.

He’d forget about me eventually.

I’d ignored the little voice in my head asking me if I’d ever forget him.

I shifted in Cian’s arms. They tightened, his hand pushing my face into his chest. I felt the brush of his lips against my head, but he didn’t say anything.

Gathering my courage, I lifted my head, expecting to see anger in his green stare. But his gaze was soft, filled with concern and sadness.

His voice was low in the silence of the room. “How’s your head?”

“Okay,” I whispered, trying not to grimace. It ached like a bugger.

“Liar,” he murmured. He traced my cheek with his finger. “You could have killed us all, Kitten.”

I shook my head slowly. “I was careful with the dosage.”

His eyes darkened. “And what about you? If I’d been knocked out as long as Sean, you’d still be lying unconscious out in a field. You would have died from exposure.” He exhaled heavily. “Not that you would’ve ever made it across that field, even if you hadn’t fallen. What the hell were you thinking?”

I shrugged, unsure how to tell him it didn’t matter. “There’s no one left on this earth who cares about me, so my life means nothing,” I whispered, matter-of-fact.

“Don’t,” he hissed. “Don’t act like your life isn’t valuable. Do you really think I could live with myself if that happened?”

Suddenly, he shifted, and I found myself pinned under him, his hands gripping my shoulders tightly. “Why did you run, Skylar? You’re safe here with me. Don’t you know that yet? Don’t you get it?”

Tears filled my eyes, running down the side of my face into my hair as I shook my head. “No-no, I don’t! I don’t know anything—you don’t tell me anything. You say I’m safe, yet you threaten me. You act like I know how you’re feeling or what you’re planning, but I don’t! You overwhelm me, Cian. I’m confused and lost and so scared. I’m scared of you…and I’m scared of how I feel about you…”

His face changed, softening, and his grip loosened. “Don’t be scared.”

“I don’t know how to be anything but scared anymore,” I sobbed.

He rolled, pulling me against his chest, running long, soothing strokes on my back. “I’m sorry,” he repeated over and over. “I’m so sorry.”

I cried until I had no tears left. Cian handed me a handful of tissues, smiling indulgently as I wiped my face and blew my nose.

“I do care,” he admitted quietly. “You mean more than you know.”

I stared at him in silence.

He shook his head in frustration. “Sean was right. I should have told you the whole story.”

“Will you?”

He drew in a deep breath. “Will you tell me yours?”

“Yes.”

He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I’ll go check on Sean. I think he took the brunt of your drugging. Then we’ll talk.”

I nodded, shamefaced. “He might be out a while.”

“He is gonna be so pissed at you—not that I blame him.”

“I know.” I hesitated. “Why aren’t you?”

“Because it’s my fault. If I’d listened to Sean, this wouldn’t have happened.”