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Nick looks at me skeptically for a moment, staying silent as he tries to read me. “What are you grinning at, sweetheart?
I peer up at him, batting my eyelashes, and the corners of my lips lift into a small grin. “Just the fact that this isn’t necessary. Don’t you already know you have my devotion?” I question in a soft tone. “There's no place I would rather be than here with you.”
He arches a brow, and hands me the bottled water along with my morning dose of pills anyway. I take them and comply with indifference, even though I am thankful for them. I wouldn’t have been able to bounce back as quickly as I have without these drugs, but I would never tell him that. Finished, I set the water bottle down, and then Nick leans forward, his hands coming to rest on either side of the armchair, caging me in.
“And why would that be, Princess?” he challenges.
I lose all playfulness as a quiet somberness washes over me, and I frown. “When my dad betrayed me the way he did, it cut me deep. Real deep. I admit at first I was disoriented, scared, and confused when I woke up in your arms. Then to top it off, I was traveling to another unknown destination.” My stomach twists at the memory. “The way you took care of me that first night here, I quickly came to realize that you have been the only one who doesn’t want to hurt me.” My forehead wrinkles as I try to convey my thoughts into words. “All you have ever wanted is to just love me, whereas everyone else has done nothing but feed me lies, and then betray me. You’ve shown me love at every turn by watching over me for years, protecting and caring for me in ways I can’t even begin to comprehend…all before I even knew you existed.” His eyes glisten as I continue expressing my gratitude for him. “You’ve had my back since day one, and I’m so sorry I ever doubted you.”
He captures my lips in a searing kiss, and then gently slips his tongue past my lips. Butterflies take flight low in my belly as I mimic his movements, twirling my tongue over his in an intoxicating kiss. I whimper when he pulls away, his brown eyes softening on mine as he regards me. “I believe you,” he whispers.
“I deserved everything you gave me that night, you know,” I confess softly. Nick is taken by surprise as he stares at me in stunned disbelief. “I’m sorry about what I said.”
“I almost don’t know where to begin with this conversation,” he says, stupefied.
“How about at the beginning,” I encourage.
“Yeah,” he says, looking away from me, wearing a somber expression. “The beginning…or rather, when I thought it was the end.” His eyes flick back to mine, full of compassion and remorse as he holds my gaze. “You know…I made myself a promise that night, Julianna.” He squats down in front of me, meeting me eye-to-eye as he wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me into him. “I’m sorry as well. I lost control of my temper, and all I could see was red. I never meant for it to go that far…hurting you the way I did.” His eyes silently plead with mine, seeking forgiveness as we both digest the other’s apology.
“I forgive you, Nick.”
“When I lost you, I swore if I ever got you back, I’d put away those items.”
“Is that why you have a locked door downstairs? Is that your special room?” His lips thin, and then he nods in a wordless confession. He looks so anguished, and then his nostrils flare with determination, his voice holding a weighty pledge. “I will never strike you out of anger ever again. I promise you.”
I lean forward, pressing my lips to his in an offering of truce. “I believe you,” I whisper his own words back to him. A sweet smile then plays on my lips as I place my hands against his scruffy cheeks, changing the subject. “I think I like your scruff,” I announce. “It adds something to your sexiness.”
His lips twitch with mirth as he raises both eyebrows. “My sexiness?”
“Mm-hmmm,” I purr, giving him a chaste kiss. “Take me to your room, Nick. Make me yours.” Some fucked-up part of me wants this, and I’m sure the Blyss has something to do with it, but the drug has nothing on my desire to feel physical pain over anything else.
“God, I hope you know what you’re saying,” he breathes in stunned disbelief. “Where’s this coming from, Julianna?”
“I think everyone deserves second chances, don’t you? I know you won’t hurt me. I trust you.”
My heart thunders in my chest, beating triple-time as I’m splayed naked and vulnerable, my wrists and ankles tied to a bed. Nick remains fully dressed as he paces the floor back and forth with an intensity that has me on edge. He promised to never hurt you, Jules, I remind myself, but then I argue back, He promised not to hurt you out of anger. All other bets are off. I swallow my panic, forcing myself to breathe in a shallow pattern to remain calm. You asked for this, genius.
