Page 46 of His Dark Purpose

Amy’s widening gaze suggested she was as surprised by the confession as he was. “You’resorry?” Her jaw dropped. “I mean… thank you, sir, it’s just, I’ve been waiting for even a flicker of remorse from you, and there’s been nothing until now.”

He had no choice but to agree. He’d allowed his ego to get in the way of what was the most important thing in his life—her.

“Yes, I’m sorry.” He closed the distance between them until he was close enough to take her free hand. “I hate to see you so upset.”

“I’m just…” She turned away, frowning. “This is all a lot, you know?”

“Yes.” He took his place beside her on the bed. “I get it.”

Itwasa lot.

“You said you were afraid?” She turned back to him. “What were you afraid of, sir?”

His insides twisted at her inevitable query. Amy was too smart not to pick up the blatant breadcrumbs he’d thrown. She was always going to notice them and want answers.

“Losing you.” He pulled in a deep breath as though the air was painful. “I suppose I worried how you’d handle the truth.”

“I guess I didn’t let you down, eh?” She laughed, the sound hollow. “Trying to leave after I found the files must have convinced you that you were right not to tell me?”

“Yeah.” He gazed into her watery eyes, rueful to have been the one causing the distress. It was one thing to spank and humiliate her—to know that they both enjoyed those things—but another to be the reason she cried into her pillow. Something had to change if they were going to be happy together. He couldn’t keep being the architect of all her pain. “It was a little triggering, but I know I overreacted.”

He could hardly believe what he was saying, but it seemed once the faucet of honesty had been turned on, it was proving difficult for him to switch it off again. If she wanted the truth, then she could have it all.

“I shouldn’t have treated you that way.” His free hand balled by his side. “I need to do better… and I will.”

“I really appreciate you saying that, sir. Maybe you can start with this?” She motioned to her right hand, which was naturally still caught in his metal cuff. “My shoulder’s aching being forced at this angle.”

“I will.” He dug into his trouser pocket to find the small key that would free his little girl from the cuff that had plagued her. He’d transferred it from his robe pocket earlier. “But first, there’s something else I need to tell you.”

The room started to sway around him, the walls paling to gray and pulsing while he tried to focus on her face.

“Something else?”

Her voice was coming over in waves, sounds he could hear and distinguish but seemed to take a long time for his brain to process. He clung to her hand, aware that even though it hadn’t been his intention, she was grounding him in some fundamental way.

“What, sir?”

“About the past.” He cleared his throat, certain his airway was trying to close and prevent his admission. Brock Hall seemed to contract around him, as though it, too, was reticent to hear his truth. “About our connection.”

“Okay.” Her brow furrowed. “I’m listening.”

“After Aspen Way…” Christ, this was more difficult than he’d thought it would be.

Sitting there, he wondered what on Earth he was doing, opening up about things she didn’t need to know about, but ultimately, the question was easily muted. He was being honest with the woman he loved because hehadto be. If the dark hunger inside him was going to be mollified by Amy’s gentle nature, he had to share everything about the man he’d once been—the predator who’d tracked and pursued her—as well as the man who adored her.

She deserved honesty.

They both did.

“When you evicted us?” Her voice trembled.

“Yes.” It sounded terrible when she put it that way. “After then.”

“What about it?” Her stare was glassy. “Those were horrible years of raising the boys alone and gradually running out of moneyandcredit.”

His trepidation surged at the absolute truth. She had suffered while he’d watched her decline like a twisted science experiment.

“I know, little girl.” He paused, taking in the contours of her face. Her skin conveyed her years, but she was still breathtakingly wonderful. “I’m sorry things were so hard then, and I didn’t do anything to help you.”

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