Page 69 of Scorched King

“Why do you look so worried?”

My head shot up at her voice only to find her leaning against the doorjamb watching me.

“You should be sleeping,” I said, my body already gravitating toward her like a magnetic pull I couldn’t resist.

“Hard to sleep with you thinking so loud.” A smile played at her lips, but concern showed in her eyes. She understood more than she let on—always had.

I shook my head, fighting a smile of my own.

“Smart ass.” The words came out rougher than intended, but how do you tell someone they’re your light when your hands are still stained with blood?

She laughed and damned if that throaty, delicate sound didn’t ease some of the tension coiling in my muscles. That attempt at normalcy was what I needed to push back the darkness. It also got my dick paying attention again.

“You aiming for a spanking, baby girl?” I hated to break it to her that it didn’t really matter if she did. Spanking that beautiful ass of hers was going to be my new favorite thing.

A coy smile crossed her face. “Yes, Daddy.”

I really wanted to shake my head over that particular nickname, but it was too late for that. I was all the way in. It was the way she said it, all breathy and soft, that made my reservations melt away every time. She was into it and that made me into it just as much.

A laugh rumbled in my chest before I could stop it. “You’re playing with fire, baby.” But even as I said it, I knew I was already gone, hooked, and reeled in.

Whatever we had going on between us, one thing was certain, this firecracker of a woman made it impossible to keep walls up around my heart.

“You should at least be resting.” I tried to keep my voice stern, but it softened at the edges when I looked at her—bruised and battered, but still full of fight. Beautiful despite the haunting memories darkening her eyes.

“I’m tired of sleeping.” Her gaze fell to the floor. “Or re-living nightmares, really.”

I closed the distance between us, taking her hand in mine. “You were incredible. I’m proud of you.”

Her eyes flicked up to meet mine, the fire in them banked but not extinguished. “You think so?”

“I know so.” I pulled her close, breathing in the scent of her hair. “But we need to talk about what happened with Cash.”

“Is he…?”

“He won’t be hurting anyone else, ever again.” My voice hardened as I remembered the betrayal. “He got what he deserved.”

Sasha shuddered, her grip tightening on my hand.

“You did good, baby.” I kissed the top of her head, inhaling the sweet fragrance of her shampoo. “You stayed strong, and you survived.”

“I didn’t feel very strong.” Her voice was small, her body shuddering in my arms.

“You were fearless.” My lips found her temple, her jaw, the sensitive skin beneath her ear. “And you faced him. You faced your fear head-on, and that’s the bravest thing anyone can do.”

“But I froze.”

“Only for a moment.” I tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet my gaze. “You snapped right out of it, and you fought back. That takes courage, Sasha.”

Her eyes searched mine as if looking for doubt, but I wouldn’t give her any.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you.” The words were a whisper, an apology I needed to make.

She shook her head, her eyes glistening. “I should’ve been stronger, faster—I shouldn’t have let him?—”

I silenced her with a finger to her lips, gentling my voice. “None of this was your fault.”

She leaned into my touch, a soft sigh escaping her lips. “I know. But it still happened.”

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