Page 67 of Theirs to Rule

Oh.

“Is it because I’ve been with Dante?” I asked.

“What?” Kage looked confused for a moment, then he shook his head. “No, of course not. I mean, yeah, I’d want him to get tested, but…” His voice trailed off.

“If it’s not that, then what is it?” I asked, getting frustrated.

And then it hit me.

He didn’t want to risk me getting pregnant because that would tie us together forever.

Kage felt my body tense and realized that I’d connected the dots.

“Rebel—”

“It’s okay, Kage. I get it." I pulled away from him and rolled on my side. "Neither of us wants a kid. We'll continue using condoms and I'll get started on the pill." I flashed him a smile even though I felt like crying. I wasn’t even sure why. Kids were the last thing on my radar right now. I guess it just emphasized how temporary we really were.

“We need to talk about this,” Kage said, rolling me over to face him.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” I said. I pulled my arm away from him. “I’ll be back in a minute. I’m just going to clean myself up?—"

“Dammit, not until we talk about this,” Kage erupted. He yanked my arm again, pulling me back on the bed, and wrapped his arms tightly around me. “I’d have ten kids with you if I could, Rebel, but it’s not that simple. My world isn’t a nice place. My family?—”

Kage’s phone pinged on the nightstand, stopping him mid-sentence. He scooped it up, but not before I caught a glimpse of who was texting him. It was Daniella. His fiancée. The woman whowouldend up having Kage’s kids. The thought made me sick. I pulled away from him, desperate to get away.

“Rebel,” Kage growled, reaching for my hand.

“No.” I jumped out of the bed and shook my head. “I need space, Kage. I’m going to sleep in my own bed tonight. Please don’t try and stop me.”

He glared at me and got out of bed too. Frustration flashed through his eyes as he raked his hand through his hair.

“Fuck,” he hissed, slamming his fist against the wall with such intensity that I jumped. “I don’t want to keep hurting you, but I can’t let you go. Not yet.”

He stared at me, and I stared right back at him. No words were needed as we were both thinking the same thing. We were drawn to each other like magnets, but we couldn’t be together. We were a modern-day Romeo and Juliet, and our ending would probably be just as fucked up.

“You’re not letting me go, Kage,” I told him, wishing I could make him understand how hard this was for me. I took a step toward him and took his hand. “I’m just sleeping in my own bed. That’s all.”

“Kiss me first then.”

Kage pulled me toward him, wrapping his strong arms around me. I looked up into his eyes, the connection between us too powerful for either of us to ignore. I wantedhimto kissme.I wanted him to show me that all this pain and uncertainty was worth it.

Thathewas worth it.

As if he could read my mind, he cupped my chin and tilted my lips up to his. As his tongue caressed mine and his mouth claimed me as his, nothing else mattered. It was Kage and me, my wetness on his tongue, my juices all over him. For just a moment, I pushed everything else to the back of my mind. For a moment, our love wasn’t complicated. It was perfect. Then, reality came crashing back down and all the things that had been trying to come between us were right in front of me again.

Our lips parted. Kage leaned his forehead against mine and sighed.

“In a perfect world, it would just be the two of us,” Kage muttered, staring into my eyes. “I’d choose you every fucking time. You’re my person, Rebel.”

“You’re mine too,” I whispered, tears welling in my eyes.

I kissed him then ran to my own room where I buried myself beneath my covers. Despite my heartache, I didn't think of breaking up with Kage this time. No, I'd made my choice, and I would stick to it, even if it meant I'd be battered, bruised, and barely breathing when Kage finally walked away from me for good.

Chapter 31

Camille

I’d been staring at the ceiling for what felt like hours. I couldn’t bring myself to get out of bed and face Kage. Things between us felt awkward after last night - he told me he wanted to be with me, but I was back to doubting how much of that was true. He was Kage O'Hare. He made things happen. He had the power of the Irish mob behind him. If he wanted something, truly wanted it, he should be able to find a way to make it happen.

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