Page 81 of King of Temptation

“I…” He’s off the bed, coming to stand in front of me. He’s everything I know I love in this moment, but I can also feel that I’m going to hate what he says next. That it’s another moment where Leo’s rash behavior is going to hurt me. “I paid the ballet.”

“To what?” I swallow down the lump, feeling dread swell in my stomach.

He looks away, his expression grim. “To delay your acceptance.”

I can’t even process those words. “Why would you do that?”

“I wanted a little more time with you. Our hook up was so good, I?—”

“You ruined my chance?”

His hands come up. “Technically, the pregnancy would have?—”

I feel like I’m going to throw up again. “You knowingly and deliberately blocked my acceptance?”

“Delayed,” he corrects with a finger. “I?—”

“How could you be that selfish?” My voice comes out high and tight. “How could you fuck with my life like that?”

“Kim,” it comes out as a plea. “I’m trying to be a better man.”

I shake my head. Part of me wants to yell. Scream. Instead, my shoulders slump. “How can I trust you with my welfare or the baby’s after you were so callus?”

“Fuck,” he spits, and he grabs for my biceps, but I shrug away. “I know I fucked up, okay? I didn’t used to be like this and I’m getting back to the man I was. I swear it.”

Tears fill my eyes. “I’m pregnant Leo. I’ve got a baby to raise and that’s what you want to say to me. I think I can do better. I royally screwed up your life, like majorly screwed up your life, but I’m going to give being nice a real go?” Now my voice is rising, growing high and tight.

I pick up the phone, hitting redial.

“Who are you calling?” He sounds panicked.

Charlotte picks up. “Hello?”

“Charlotte, I need Mason.”

Leo plucks from the phone from my hand, hitting the off button and tossing the phone away.

For the second time since I met him, I’m scared. “Leo,” I breathe out, but this one sounds different. I can hear the fear in my own voice, feel it tightening my gut. I’ve never been afraid of him before. Not like this.

Technically, he was hotter under the collar last night at the club. But we were surrounded by people and his irritation was because he was worried about me dancing while pregnant. He was trying to protect me but now…

I feel the shift…

“Do not involve my brother,” he grinds out.

“Don’t scare me, then.” My breath hitches and I realize I’ve been slowly backing away as he advances.

He stops. “I would never hurt you, Kim.”

“You already did.”

He scrubs his hands over his face, letting out a feral growl. “I instantly regretted it. I’ve been wanting to tell you.”

“But you didn’t.” I shake my head, tears finally cresting my eyelashes.

My back hits the wall, and Leo surges froward again, caging me against it. “I had nothing to do with you missing that final.”

“I know. But don’t you understand? I’ve never been worth much and?—”

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