Page 93 of Set In Stone

Hale and Justine said you needed time. I don’t like having to go through them to find out how you are. I want to talk to you. I don’t know why you need time away from me, but I will respect your wishes until you sort thingsout.

I know I screwed up. I never should have let you walk away from me. You shouldn’t have been alone after the shock you received and I’m sorry for that. Perhaps if I followed you, we wouldn’t be here right now. My only excuse is that I was torn. I wanted answers for you, yet I was scared at the same time. I was scared for you. And if I’m being perfectly honest, I was scared for metoo.

I don’t want to be afraid. I love you and I miss you so much. Please call me when you’reready.

All MyLove,

YourAngel

XOXO

I meant what I said in the email, even if I did sound like I was close to begging. However, I didn’t particularly care. I knew we both screwed up Saturday night, but this time I was willing to shoulder all the blame. It was as if he were my air, and I felt like I was suffocating withouthim.

Closing the laptop, I stood and went into the bathroom. I turned on the faucet in the shower, barely registering what I was doing. Everything I did over the past two and half days seemed to be in slow motion, like nothing more than a measuredblur.

The bathroom mirror began to cloud with steam as I stripped out of my sweats and t-shirt. Climbing into the shower, I pressed my forehead to the tiled wall and allowed the piping hot water to flow over my back. I imagined it was rinsing away all the pain and agony I felt during Alexander’sabsence.

I washed my hair and body methodically until eventually the water began to run cold. Stepping out of the shower, I dried my body and wrapped my hair up in a separate towel on top of my head. Moving over to the sink, I watched the clouded mirror begin to clear and my gaze fell on my reflection. There were dark shadows under my eyes brought on by lack of sleep. But they also had a hollow look that I didn’t recognize. My cheeks were flushed from the heat of the shower, a sharp contrast to the rest of my pale, almost ashen colored skin. Dropping the towel, I looked at my naked body in themirror.

I recalled a time when I would critique my reflection, judging all the flaws and imperfections. I wasn’t overweight by any means, but I would still feel self-conscious about my behind that I thought was just a little too big, or my breasts that were slightly too voluptuous. I didn’t do that anymore, as Alexander taught me how to appreciate my body. He made me feel beautiful.Treasured.

I ran my hands slowly up my hips, past my breasts, until my arms crossed my chest and a hand rested on each shoulder. I stared back into my own eyes through the mirror. They looked tired, devoid of the spark and fire that Alexander always said Ihad.

This isn’tme.

I was not the type to just sit and wallow and wait. I wasn’t pitiful. I was strong. I was a fighter. And it was high time I fight for Alexander. For us. Letting him walk away was a mistake and I knew it. Now, he had taken enoughtime.

What if he doesn’t want to see me? What if it’s all too much and he doesn’t want meanymore?

I pushed the thoughts aside, not wanting to think about the what-if’s. I needed to take back what was mine. Resting my palms against the edge of the counter, I leaned in toward themirror.

“You can do this,” I said to myreflection.

Feeling suddenly reenergized with a sense of purpose, I quickly bent to scoop up my towel from the floor. Wrapping it around my body, I made a dash for the bathroom door. I didn’t know where Alexander was at that exact moment, but I was confident Hale did. The faster I got dressed, the faster I would be able to get tohim.

I threw open the bathroom door in a rush, only to smack hard into the chest of someone on the other side. I staggered and they grabbed my arm to steady me. I looked down at the hand that gripped my arm and froze, unable to look up. I didn’t have to. I knew who it was. I would recognize the strong lines of those fingers anywhere. I closed my eyes and breathed deep, knowing I would inhale that familiar sandalwood and all male scent that never failed to make me weak in theknees.

I slowly lifted my head and ran my eyes over the features of the man who held me in his grasp. Two days’ worth of stubble marred his skin, but he was still raw, potent, and gorgeous as ever. My gaze settled on the hypnotizing sapphire blue eyes that I adored so much. The vulnerability revealed in them was laced with just enough ruthlessness to let me know he was back. Gone was the man I found in the club. Standing before me was the man I fell in lovewith.

“Alex,” Iwhispered.

35

alexander

My words,everything I practiced that morning, got caught in my throat as I stared down at Krystina. She looked exhausted, as if she hadn’t slept in days, but she was still stunning and beautiful. I reached up and pulled the towel from her head. Rich, brown curls tumbled free, damp from her recent shower. I ran my fingers through them, trying to remember the many things I wanted to say toher.

“Angel,I…”

I wanted to pull her close to me. To hold her. To kiss it all away. But I hesitated. After the way I treated her, she may not want me to touch her. I wouldn’t blame her if that were the case. I was a complete asshole. She should make me beg for herforgiveness.

Trying to get a read on what she was thinking, I carefully studied her face. Her eyes were moist with unshed tears. She looked confused, yet relieved at the same time. My hands still held her arms, but she didn’t try to shrug me off. I took that as a good sign at the veryleast.

“How are you?” shewhispered.

I had a thousand answers for her question, but I didn’t voice any of them. Instead, I walked over to retrieve the overnight bag that was sitting on the floor in front of her old dresser. Seeing it there pained me, as I didn’t want to acknowledge that I allowed us to spend the last three nights apart. I didn’t dare glance down at her bed, as images of her being alone under the lily comforter was almost unbearable. I had slept on the couch in my office, unable to even look at the bed we shared, knowing she wouldn’t be init.

I unzipped the bag and began to rifle through it in search of clothes for her. Pulling out what I needed, I returned to her. She watched me curiously, but didn’tspeak.

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