Page 4 of The Vicious Defender

"Tell me, angel. Or I will have to punish you."

I glare at him. "You won't hurt me. You've never done it, and you won't now."

"You have a lot of faith in me," he sighs.

"I know you," I say quietly. "You wouldn't hurt me."

"Not even if you were bad, angel?" he asks, gripping my chin and lifting my face up. "If you were a bad girl?"

"Even then," I reply. "You wouldn't hurt me."

Xavier sighs, letting go of me. "What is it?"

"I'll tell you," I say with a defeated sigh.

"You can tell me anything, angel. You know that, right?"

"I know."

"Good. Come."

He helps me get up and guides me out of the restaurant. We walk to the elevator in silence, and when the doors close, he pulls me to his chest, wrapping his arms around me.

"Talk, angel."

"I..." I hesitate.

"Now."

"I was convinced I was pregnant," I blurt out. "I missed my period, and I was waiting for it, but it never came. I got my hopes up, Xavier, and I'm so, so sorry. I ruined the evening."

I bury my face in his chest, and he holds me tightly. His arms wrap around me, holding me close and making me feel safe.

"Why are you sorry?" he asks after a few minutes.

"Because it's my fault," I mutter. "You're disappointed."

"I could never be disappointed in you, Tallulah," he whispers. "Never."

The doors slide open and we walk into our suite.

He pulls me to the couch, and I collapse onto the soft cushions. He kneels before me, gripping my face with both his hands.

"Look at me, angel," he whispers. "Why are you sad?"

"Because I wanted a baby," I whimper. "And it was a false alarm."

"It's alright," he says, kissing me gently. "I'm sorry, too."

"You have nothing to apologize for."

"I'm sorry because I wanted to have a child with you so desperately, angel," he whispers.

Tears form in the corners of my eyes. He brushes them away with his thumbs, kissing my cheeks.

"There will be a next time," he whispers. "But now, it's time to let me in."

I frown. "What do you mean?"

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