Page 93 of Betrayed

“I doubt that, but I’ll accept it for now.”

“Adri?”

“Under arrest.”

“Then it’s over?”

“Yes, and you’re safe.”

Relief swept through her, but she still clung to him like a lifeline.

“He’s covered,” someone said. It sounded like Cap, but she couldn’t tell with her face buried in Arturo’s chest, and over her crying.

“Let’s get you away from here,” he murmured, as he lifted her and carried her inside. She clung to him, ignoring the male voices, the sirens, and slamming doors as more vehicles arrived. He didn’t slow down, climbing the stairs steadily, taking her straight through to her bedroom, kicking the door closed behind him.

He eased her onto the bed and lay down beside her, wrapping his arms and legs around her as he got as close as he could. Then he held her, whispering softly in both French and English as his hands moved in long sweeping strokes up and down her back.

A thought popped into her head, and she blurted it out. “I got a speeding ticket in your car.”

He didn’t move, only said, “It’s okay.”

“I was doing 100 mph,” she added.

Still, he didn’t flinch.

“I think I burned up your clutch. I know how to drive a stick, I swear. Or I did, twenty-two years ago, but that thing had seven gears, Arturo. Not including park, neutral, and reverse. I thought I was getting the hang of it, but when I got to the shop, I smelled something burning.”

“Mari...”

She didn’t stop, her words coming out in a rush.

“And I went to the club solely to push your buttons. You were ignoring me, well, not really ignoring, but I felt like your sister—pecks on the cheek and my forehead—what was that? You were driving me mad. I wanted to tick you off, so you’d take back control, spank me, fuck me, or at least somehow show that you still wanted me.”

He made a choking noise, but she didn’t stop.

“And I would never dance with Seth Benson. I just said that to torture you a little after leaving me...well, you know...high and dry. Which was really a childish thing to do, for which I’m sorry. You were only doing your job. And all those times I said we were over or that I never wanted to see you again. I lied. Through my teeth. I was mad and hurt, and completely full of sh—”

“Mari!” he barked, at the same time squeezing her to cut off her rant. Then he propped himself on a forearm and with his hand curled around her jaw, green eyes brilliant with emotion, he asked, “What are you doing,mon amour?”

“Coming clean. I want to be honest with you, always.” She blinked at the tears that hadn’t stopped flowing. “And I want you to know that I’ve loved you since I saw you whipping a complete stranger in the club. I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true. I fought it; you saw me try to do it, but I couldn’t get you out of my head. I don’t want to keep anything from you because life is short, and I could lose you—”

“You won’t lose me.”

“You can’t keep that promise. After Derek, I realize that. No one can. Still, I don’t want to live alone and afraid anymore. So frightened to love again that I shut down and hide my heart.” She reached up and traced his bearded jaw and his full, sensuous lips before resting her hand on his cheek. “I want to love again, Arturo. That’s what’s in my heart, for you.”

“You don’t have to be afraid. I have you, I love you, and I never plan to let you taste fear or loneliness again.”

She blinked up at him, wanting to believe.

“Tu es à moi.I told you that last night. Know what it means?”

She shook her head, understanding onlymoifor me.

“You’re mine, and I take care of what belongs to me. You’re precious to me, Mari.Je t’aime aussi, ma colombe.”

She froze, peering up at him, wanting to be his, but not like she’d been with Derek. She didn’t want that kind of obsessive, controlling love again, where she lost herself.

“I’m not like him,” he assured her, reading her so easily. “I want to love and protect you but also help you grow into the woman you want to be. As my submissive, and soon as my wife.”

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