Page 148 of Vengeful Guard

“Princess…” I tear my eyes away from her. “That doesn’t matter.”

“Of course, it matters.” She huffs. “It’s the only thing that does. Needing to tell you and the need to know was what got me through that—that…”

“But, sweetheart… I don’t even know where I stand anymore. Your brothers?—”

“I don't give a fuck about my brothers. All I care about is you, Kael.” Her eyes are pools as tears gather on them. “Please. I need to know. Can you ever love me?”

“Princess—”

“You can’t, can you?” Her head falls back, and she looks to the ceiling. “That’s okay. I just needed to know.”

“You got it all wrong.” I hold her hand, squeezing it.

Her head turns to me as a tear rolls down the side of her face.

“That’s okay, I understand.” She smiles, but the misery there crushes me.

I don’t care that I’m not good enough. All I care is that she always has a true smile on her face. Not this. Never this.

I catch her runaway tear with my thumb. “You got it wrong because it’s not a case of if I can love you. I already do. I love you more than my own life, princess.” The dam breaks, and all that’s inside me overflows, tears rolling down my cheeks. “I wanted to tell you. I was going to tell you. But then all of this happened, and I still wanted to protect you. I didn’t want you to have a hard time from your brothers, so I left. But I wanted to stay and fight for you so bad.”

“I never wanted you to leave. I don’t care what my brothers say. I have my own life, my own place. I choose how to live and who I want in my life.” She smiles, wincing as she does. “Now kiss me, you idiot.”

“I don’t want to hurt you, princess.”

She reaches up, cupping my face, and pulls me down to her mouth.

I kiss her gently, but she slides her tongue into my mouth despite what must surely be a lot of pain, and I taste blood on her tongue.

I don’t care. It doesn’t matter.

What matters is Paige Burke is alive, and she loves me. That’s all that will ever matter. Paige is right about that.

After I break apart, I press my forehead against hers. “I never thought I deserved a happy ending.”

“Why not, Kael? You’re such a good guy.”

“I wasn’t always. I did some bad things before Patrick took me under his wing. Worked for some bad people.”

Her eye widens but I shake my head.

“Never Murphy. I wasn’t that stupid. But guys who were wrapped up in hard drugs, prostitution. I did plenty of drugs, was with plenty of women. I didn’t deserve happiness then.”

“But you do now.” Her eyes are staring into my soul. “You’re loyal and kind and smart?—”

I chuckle. “Stop saying such nice things about me. You’ll forget you hated me a few weeks ago.”

“I never hated you.”

My eyes widen. “That's news to me.”

“I was just always mad that I was attracted to you.” She pouts, and I laugh out loud.

“Maybe I was, too.” I stroke her matted hair. “And now I don’t have to fight my feelings anymore.”

She smiles and kisses me again. “I love you.”

I beam at her. “I love you too. God, it feels so good to be able to say that.”

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