Page 100 of Reckless Royalty

“Maddy?” he breathes, the gun in his hand shaking slightly. “Shit.Shit.”

He drops the weapon on his nightstand like it’s burned him, the clatter of it hitting the top echoing in the room. His hands cup my face, his expression pure horror.

“Oh, my God. Baby, I’m so fucking sorry. Are you okay? Did I hurt you? Fuck, I didn’t mean?—”

“Mihai,” I start, but he cuts me off, his words tumbling over each other in a panicked rush.

“It was a reflex. It’s—fuck, it’s how I was trained. Someone on top of me, it’s an automatic response. I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t see it was you until—shit, Maddy, I’m so sorry.”

“Mihai,” I try again, but he’s spiraling, his voice rising with every word.

“I could’ve hurt you.” His words are tumbling out faster than I can process them. “Do you know what would’ve happened if I’d pulled the trigger? Fucking hell, Maddy, I?—”

“Mihai!” I finally yell, my hands grabbing his face to force him to look at me. His eyes widen, his chest heaving as he blinks down at me.

“I’m fine,” I say firmly, holding his gaze. “You didn’t hurt me.”

He stares at me like I’ve just spoken in tongues. “I had a fucking gun to your head,” he says, his voice low and harsh. “How the hell are you fine?”

I hesitate for a moment, unsure how to put it into words. “Because… I wasn’t scared.”

That seems to make him pause, his head tilting slightly. “You weren’t?”

I shrug, feeling my cheeks heat as I try to explain. “I wasn’t scared, Mihai. I don’t know how to explain it, but… I trusted you. Even with the gun. I knew you wouldn’t hurt me. It was instinct, Mihai, not malice.”

He looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Maddy, I could’ve killed you.”

“You didn’t,” I point out, my tone calm. “Well, what you did was actually kind of…” I trail off, cringing inwardly.

“Kind of what?” he presses, his voice softer now, the ghost of a smirk tugging at his lips.

I groan, covering my face with my hands. “Sexy, okay? It was kind of hot the way you pinned me.”

For a moment, there’s silence. Then, he laughs—low and warm, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. “Hot, huh?”

I peek at him through my fingers, my cheeks blazing. “Urgh, why did I have to say that?”

“Oh, no, baby,” he says, his grin widening. “You don’t get to drop a bomb like that and not let me enjoy it.”

I groan again, turning my face into the pillow. “Urghh, I hate you.”

“No, you don’t.” His tone is smug, and when I glance up at him, his expression is absolutely wicked. “So, let me get this straight. You think me flipping you over and holding a gun to your head is… what? Sexy?”

“Don’t make it weird, you prat,” I mumble, looking anywhere but at him.

“You think it’s hot when I pull a gun on you? That’s what does it for you, Maddy?”

“Don’t say it like that!” I hiss, swatting at his chest.

His eyes gleam with mischief as he leans closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “So, what other kinks are you hiding from me, huh? Should I be taking notes?”

“You’re insufferable,” I mutter, but I can’t help the laugh that escapes me.

“And you’re adorable when you’re flustered,” he counters, brushing his thumb along my cheek.

I shove at his shoulder, trying to push him away, but he doesn’t budge. He just laughs, the sound deep and rich, and it makes my stomach flip in the best way.

“Hey, I’m not judging,” he says, his tone still light but his gaze warm. “You just surprised me, that’s all. I didn’t think my Little Rebel would find my darker side so… appealing.”

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