Page 78 of Guarded from Sabotage

His features soften. “Anything you want.”

I wasn’t exaggerating. Once Dante’s on the couch with my legs draped over his lap, his hand lightly stroking my knee, I can feel my muscles unclench. My jittery stomach settles. The band wrapped around my chest loosens a little.

“You are helping,” I tell him, holding his gaze. “Everything you’re doing helps. Bringing me food, making me eat, fluffing my pillows, checking on me, calling my parents and Hanna…”

“Still.” His lips press into an unhappy line. “You’re in pain. I can tell. And I hate it.”

“A little.” A lot, but I’m not saying that. “But I’m going to be okay.”

Dante stares at me for a second before saying quietly, “I’m so sorry, Sarah. I should have been there. I feel like I let you down.”

“Let me down? No way.” Ignoring the pain in my ribs, I lean forward to catch his hand. “You absolutely did not let me down, Dante. You came for me. You stopped Tamara and you rescued me. And not just this time. You’ve nevernotbeen there for me. I knew you’d come. I knew it. That’s why I was trying to get her to talk. There was never any doubt that you’d come for me.”

“Always. But—” He swallows hard. “I just wish… I’d been with you. Bringing you to lunch. To the interview. Then?—”

“She would have tried another time. Tamara wasn’t giving up. Not until…” A lump lodges in my throat, stopping the rest of my words from coming out.

“Oh, Sarah.”

“She thought it was my fault,” I finally manage. “Tamara. She really thought it was my fault her brother’s life was ruined. That he died.”

“Never. It’s not your fault. Not at all.”

“I know that. But… she didn’t know.”

“She should havechecked.” Anger flushes his cheeks. “Before she came up with her insane plan, she should have done her research. Found out it was her brother who was the monster, and not you.”

“Yes. She should have. But still. I can’t help feeling… sad. Guilty. Blake died. Tamara’s going to jail for decades. Ivan… I don’t know how he’ll come back from spending weeks in jail.And you. You were almost killed, Dante. All because of a decision I made almost fifteen years ago.”

“No.” Dante leans over and cups my cheek. His eyes flare with intensity. “Everything that happened was Blake’s fault.He’sthe one who hurt you. The blame falls on him. Not you.”

The band around my chest eases even more. “Then… you shouldn’t feel guilty, either. If it’s his fault. Right?”

After a second or two, his lips curve into a reluctant smile. “I guess you’re right.” He presses a soft kiss to my lips. Then, with a bigger smile, he adds, “I’m lucky to have such a smart girlfriend.”

A lightness fills my chest, and I smile back at him. “Youarelucky.” A beat, and then, “I’m lucky, too. To have such an amazing, brave, badass boyfriend.”

“Badass, eh?” Dante raises his eyebrows. “I hope that’s a good thing?”

“It is. You’re all tough and strong and protective, and you look really sexy doing your bodyguarding thing.”

His gaze heats. “I’ll guard your bodyanytime.”

Despite my exhaustion and fractured ribs and strained shoulder, desire coils in my belly. My womb clenches, and my nipples go hard. “How long until we can make love again?”

Dante grins. “Not for a month, at least. But—” His hand grazes my breast. “Maybe in a week or so, if we’re careful, I can do someotherthings to you.”

Oh. That doesn’t sound too bad.

“What kinds of things?”

“Well…”

But just as Dante’s about to elaborate, his phone buzzes with a text. And another. And another.

At least ten messages must have come through before Dante grabs his phone off the coffee table, chuckling as he looks at thescreen. “I told everyone to give you some time to rest before checking in, but I think they’re getting impatient.”

“Impatient? To see me?”

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