Page 52 of Kidnapped from the Paradise Resort

“Thank you.” He drank the water, downing it in one long swallow, and then set the glass on the side table. He seemed uncertain of himself, Kara thought—which was pretty much how she felt as well.

“Er…how was your trip back?” she asked lamely.

“Fine.” He nodded and cleared his throat. “The ones who hurt you have been punished—I wanted you to know that.”

“Oh…thank you,” Kara said faintly.

“You’re welcome.” He nodded and then seemed to be searching for other topics to talk about. “Why do you have a breeding chair in your living area?” he asked, nodding at the black glider the Twin Kindred had delivered earlier.

“I’m sorry—a what?” Kara frowned. “Is that what it’s called?”

J’orn nodded.

“Yes, but why do you have one?”

“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “It was delivered by accident, I think. I’m going to ask some of my neighbors if they ordered it because I certainly didn’t.”

“Oh.” He nodded and then blurted out, “Kara, I’m so sorry I hurt you!”

“What? What do you mean?” She shook her head. “Yousavedme—back at the brothel.”

“Not before I took you—muchtoo hard. Not before I bruised you.” He closed his eyes briefly, a look of regret coming over his face.

“J’orn, no…please don’t feel like that.” Kara leaned across the couch and put a hand on his. “I don’t feel like you hurt me,” she told him. “Youhelpedme. I heard those horrible people at the brothel talking. If you hadn’t…done what you did, I could havedied.”

J’orn shook his head.

“I lost control with you—I wanted you so badly I couldn’t hold myself back. I’msofucking sorry for that,” he said hoarsely.

“But I’m fine—really!” Kara protested. “I mean, physically anyway. Mentally and emotionally I think it’s going to take a little time to get over. I’m certainly going to have a really hard time trusting people from now on,” she added grimly, thinking of Gaela and Nono. “But none of that is your fault.”

“Can I look at you?” he asked. “I mean, look at the place where I hurt you? I just…I need to see how bad it is.”

Wordlessly, Kara rose and went to stand in front of him. Though he was seated on the couch and she was standing, they were still almost eye-to-eye.

She untied the sash to her white robe and let it fall to her feet. Then she raised the nightgown and let him see.

J’orn sucked in a breath when he saw the finger-shaped bruises branding her hips.

“Gods,” he muttered in a low voice. “Look what I did to you! I’m so fucking sorry, Kara!”

“Stop apologizing,” she told him. “They’ll fade. I don’t blame you—we were both under a lot of stress last night.”

God—had the whole ordeal really only been the night before? It seemed so distant now—all but the part where J’orn had fucked her. That remained vivid in her mind.

J’orn shook his head.

“I shouldn’t have hurt you! I should have had more self-control. It’s just that I’ve wanted you for so long…”

“For how long?” Kara asked softly. “From that time you saw me half-dressed on the beach?”

He shook his head.

“From the very first minute I met you,” he admitted in a low voice. “When I first saw you standing in the PR office, looking like a goddess, I knew.”

“Really?” Kara raised her eyebrows in surprise. “But you’re so young—so handsome. You could have anyone you wanted.”

“You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted.” He shook his head. “I know you probably don’t want to hear that.”

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