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It’s an option, I have to admit.
“Let me think about it,” I growl.
Still ruminating on Mack’s proposal, I go back to the apartment to see Kat. She’s still sleeping. I look at the slash on her face, the stitches holding the skin together. She’s gonna have a scar for sure.
Kat must sense my eyes on her, because her own lids flutter open a few seconds later. “Hi.”
I go to her and sit down on the bed, careful not to jostle her. “How you feeling?”
“Okay.” Her voice is scratchy. She sits up, rubs sleep from her eyes. “How long was I out?”
“Awhile.” I reach up, gently touch her cheek, careful to stay away from the wound. “How does this feel?”
“It aches.” A flicker of something crosses her face. “I’m going to have to look at this scar for the rest of my life,” she whispers. “What if it’s ugly?”
I shake my head. “Impossible. The face it’s on is too beautiful.”
Kat grimaces. “Don’t do that.”
“Don’t do what?”
“Pretend like it won’t matter.”
“Kat. Look at me.” I lean closer, making sure her gaze is locked on mine. “I didn’t say it doesn’t matter. It matters like hell to me that someone hurt you. But I’m not pretending. You are beautiful. That’s just a plain fact. And this scar? It’s going to fade with time. I already know that you will only be more beautiful to me every single day, with or without it. Do you think I’m lying to you?”
She hesitates. “No.”
I slide closer. “Are you still mad at me?”
“Sort of. But I’m too tired to fight.”
“Good.” I lie down on the bed, and Kat lies down next to me. I take her in my arms. “Sometimes I won’t be able to tell you stuff, babe. When it’s about the club. It’s an oath I took. I know it pissed you off, but that’s not what I meant to do. I mean to keep you safe, babe.” I tilt her face up to mine. “I’ll always tell you anything I can. That’s a promise. Can you live with that?”
She lets out a soft sigh and snuggles up to me. “I guess so.”
“Need to hear you say youknowso.”
“Okay. I know so.”
Having her so close, her breasts snug against my chest, sets my mind racing with all sorts of ideas. My dick snaps to attention, with ideas of its own. But then Kat yawns, and I feel all the tension leave her body. I can tell she’s close to falling asleep again. There’ll be time for me to take her in all the ways I want to after we’ve both had some rest.
“We’re going to stay at the clubhouse tonight,” I tell her. “Just in case someone is watching my place. There’s no way anyone can get to you here. You’ll be safer than anywhere else. Do you believe me?”
She yawns again, sagging against me. “I believe you. But can you really not tell me anything more?”
“Just know I’m watching out for you.” I kiss her forehead. “And so are the Royal Bastards.”
21
KAT
Iwake up to find myself alone.
I can’t tell what time it is because the windows in the apartment have blackout curtains on them. I yawn, stretch, put my hand over my mouth to check my breath.Ugh. Gross.
There’s a small lamp on the night table that’s emitting enough low light for me to move around the room. I go into a tiny bathroom that’s barely big enough to fit a toilet, sink, and diminutive shower stall. There’s a tube of toothpaste in the vanity, and I put some on my finger, do a quick scrub of my teeth and tongue, and then pull on my clothes.
When I get to the door, I have a strangely panicked second of fear that I’ve been locked inside. But no, the knob turns freely. Somehow, that freedom holds me back for a second. I let go of the knob and press my ear to the solid wood. Other than the distant beat of some music, there’s no other sound that comes to me from the other side. Cautiously, I grip the knob again and open it, then step out into the hallway.
