Page 95 of Casino King

Before I even open my eyes, I let myself breathe in the spicy, manly scent that makes my heart dance knowing Alec is right next to me.

He hasn’t left me.

My body hums alive just being near him. He has this power over me that I can’t explain, and I don’t really want to. He’s a part of me, plain and simple.

Finally blinking my eyes open, I see sunlight streaming in through the sides and crack of the curtain – a path shooting straight to us and illuminating Alec’s face.

God, he’s so beautiful.

Beautifully dark, dangerous, and deadly. Even while asleep, his face doesn’t relax from the hard planes and tight set of his jaw. But I wouldn’t want him any other way. He’s my dark savior I never knew was waiting for me.

Outlining his jaw with the tip of my index finger, I trace his lips. Those lips can both bring me to heaven and drag me to hell, and either way, I never want to live without them.

Lost in thought, I’m not prepared for Alec’s quick move to capture my finger between his teeth.

“Ah,” I gasp.

“You’ve been staring at me, bella,” he says, his sexy raspy morning voice making my stomach knot. He’s never with me when I wake up, and hearing it for the first time has both my heart and core clenching.

“How do you know?”

“I can always feel your eyes on me.”

“I was just admiring the view.”

“Good choice.”

I flash him a smile, and then grow serious. “I didn’t really have a choice, Alec. You were never a choice. You were always my destiny.”

His eyes turn molten, and his hand around my waist tightens. “You’re mine, Tessa. From the first time I saw you on stage, owning it like the queen you are, I knew.”

“You’re mine too,” I tell him, pressing closer to him. “But I don’t want to be someone you think you can give an order to and I’ll just blindly follow. I’ve never been that person. I want you to see me as more than a duty. As more than an object to keep safe.”

“You’ve never been an object to me, Tessa. You’re my fucking world. You’re my reason for breathing. A man like me only has two weaknesses – lack of control and the woman he loves. I have both with you, and I don’t know how to deal with that. It’ll always be a battle for me. But I will never apologize for protecting you.”

My heart stops. Actually stops.

Did he just say…?

Did he just tell me…?

Rolling us over, Alec presses me into the bed, his weight a welcomed relief.

“I’m sorry, bella. I never wanted to cause you pain. I tried to protect you from everyone else, when it was me who would hurt you most of all. I didn’t know. I couldn’t have known. But that doesn’t excuse it.”

He presses his lips to the cut on my chest and the base of my throat, and I shiver, my nails digging into his shoulders.

“He’s dead. The man who killed your brother. He’s dead. I took care of him for you the day after I found out.”

“Alec,” I breathe, a tear escaping the corner of my eye. He killed one of his own men for me.

“I don’t want you to hurt anymore, Tessa. I don’t want you to look at me and see a killer. I don’t want you to only see the monster who took your family from you.”

Cupping his cheek, I run my hand through his hair and cradle his head. “I do see a killer, Alec,” I tell him, and a pained look crosses his eyes. “But I also see a man who would do anything for me,” I continue. “I see a man who protects his family. I see a man who’s capable of so much more than he believes. I see a man with power who feels the weight of the world. But most of all, I see a man I wouldn’t change for anything. I want all of you. Killer and all.”

Alec closes his eyes briefly, and when he opens them again, the two pools of darkness I love to swim in are swirling, sucking me down into their depths.

“Ti amo, mia bella rosa.”

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