Page 394 of Primal Bonds

“I left Dion and Cleia a note saying I was coming to you.”

His brows flew up. “You told Dion? About us?”

“Yep.” Her full mouth set in stubborn lines. “I’m not going to sneak around to be with you.”

“Rosana…”

“I mean it. If you want me, it’s got to be out in the open.”

“But I told you—”

“You want me. You’re not going to tell me last night didn’t mean something.”

“No.” He tightened his arms around her. He just couldn’t do it. It would be a lie, and besides, he couldn’t hurt her like that. Not when she was locked in this fucking cell because of him. “You know it did.”

“Okay, then.” He hadn’t realized how stiff she was holding herself until she relaxed and curled closer, one arm resting on his stomach, the other around his back in a loose hug. He sucked in a breath when she pressed a tender spot on his lower abdomen.

“Sorry.” She tried to pull away, but he kept her where she was.

“No, stay. I like you close.”

“Me too.” A pause, and then she added in a small voice. “It makes me less scared.”

His heart lurched. “Don’t be scared. You’ll get out of here—soon. I promise.”

“Not without you.”

He tugged a long black curl. “Are you this much trouble to Dion?”

He felt her grin against his shoulder. “More.”

“Never thought I’d feel sorry for the man.”

She chuckled, and then laughed aloud when her stomach rumbled immediately after. “Sorry.”

“You’re hungry.” He stroked his palm down the delicate knobs of her spine. “Why didn’t you grab something this morning? There was cereal in the cabinet.”

“I didn’t have time,” she said sweetly. Too sweetly.

“Oh.”

“Yeah. You snuck out on me, asshole.”

He moved uncomfortably. “You were asleep. I figured we’d said our goodbyes.”

“Yeah, right. You were afraid I’d talk you into taking me with you.”

“Not because I don’t want you. It’s because I don’t want you hurt.”

A low growl. “Stop trying to protect me. I can take care of myself.”

“Against another fada, maybe. But these are fae. You saw the kind of power the prince has.”

“So what makes you think you can beat him? You’re a fada, too.”

“Because, damn it, I don’t care about me.” He gripped her shoulders, gave her shake. “But if something happened to you, I’d fucking break. I’ve lost too many people. I can’t lose you. I won’t lose you.”

Her eyes widened. “You do love me.”

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