Page 103 of Devilish

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LUCIEN

WITH GENTLE STROKES, I washed Kai’s back with a soft cloth and soap, careful of the red marks there. Seeing them now made me want to bash Rupert’s face in all over again, but I tried to force thoughts of him far out of my mind. He wasn’t here with us, and he’d never hurt Kai again.

The water in my claw-foot tub lapped against my chest as I repositioned my legs on either side of Kai and sat forward to run the cloth down over his arms. His bruised arms.

“It doesn’t hurt,” he said, his head bowed forward as he relaxed into my touch. “I promise.”

The fact that he was trying to reassure me when I could clearly see the marks that told me otherwise made my chest clench.

“I’m sorry, Kai.” I swallowed and continued to wash every inch of him clean. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there.”

“What? No. It was my fault I went out in the first place.”

“Because you should’ve expected your ex to kidnap you?” I said, so pissed at myself for allowing any of this to happen. “Thisismy fault. I underestimated the lengths he would go to, and because of that, I put you in danger.”

Kai turned around so fast that water sloshed over the edge of the tub. “Please don’t do that. Don’t take the blame for somethinghedid.”

Those innocent blue-grey eyes locked on to mine, but this time there was a steely determination in them. I ran the backs of my fingers along his cheek and shook my head. “I promised to keep you safe. I failed.”

I’d never failed at anything. It wasn’t in my nature.

“Hey.” Kai grabbed my wrist, keeping my hand on his face. “You didn’t fail. I wouldn’t be here with you if you had. You promised you’d always be there for me and you were. Youare.”

“But—”

Kai’s lips on mine cut off my protest.

“Dirty play, Mr. Daniels.”

“Seemed the most effective way to get through to you, since you weren’tlistening.”

“Oh, I see.” And I did. The last thing he needed was to worry about my guilt, but it was difficult to just flip a switch and let it all go.

Rupert had had his hands on my boy. He’d taken him from me. And if I hadn’t gotten there in time…

Those soft lips were back on mine, Kai’s sweet tongue sweeping away any and all thoughts of Rupert as he slid a hand behind my neck and pulled me closer, diving deeper. The water gently lapped all around us.

“I’m going to do that every time you start thinking bad thoughts,” he said when he pulled away.

“And that’s supposed to deter me?”

“It’s supposed to distract you. I don’t want him here, between us. The only thing that got me through today was knowing I’d be back here in your arms. And guess what?”

“What?” I said, smoothing my hands up his back, massaging his neck.

“I was right.”

“You seem rather proud of that fact.”

“I am.” Kai grinned, but then his expression turned serious. “I’ve never had any reason to fight back before. Never had anyone to fightforbefore. But when he—who I refuse to name—tried to get in my head, tried to make me feel less than, I found a determination inside me I never knew I had. Afightinside me I never knew I had. You’d shown me what was possible, who I could be away from him, and I wasn’t going to let him take that away from me.”

A fire blazed in Kai’s eyes, and while I hated the reason for it, I was proud as hell to see it. The brave young man in my lap now was light-years from the skittish one who’d jumped every time I spoke to him, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride at how far he’d come. And suddenly, it felt important to tell him.

“I’m so proud of you too, Kai. When I saw the marks on—” He covered my mouth before I could say the fucker’s name and then lowered his hand. “Right.Him. I knew you’d fought back, that you refused to live that life anymore. To say that I’m proud is an understatement.”

He beamed and threw his arms around my neck. “I would’ve rather died than have him touch me again after you.”

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