Page 120 of The Delta's Rogue
She continues to caress my wound. “But you’re bleeding.” Her eyes travel down my cheek and neck, tracking the stains that the slowing flow of blood leaves on my skin.
I bring her hands to my lips and kiss her knuckles. “It’s worth it to have you again. I would give every last drop of my blood if it meant you’d be safe forever.” My lips linger, eyes closing at the sensations rippling through me where our skin meets. “The joy your touch brings me outweighs any pain.”
She angles her head to the side. “My touch brings you joy?”
“Because of our mate bond.”
“I can’t feel it.” Her eyes flick down to where I continue to pepper sweet kisses on her fingers. “But I need your touch too.”
I squeeze her hands, then release them and lift my palm to her cheek. “I promise you, we are mates.”
She doesn’t seem surprised at my revelation, only disappointed that the bond isn’t there for her right now. Maybe she, like me, connected the dots and figured out we must be mates. That our connection was deeper than either of us could have ever planned or expected. That, all along, we were the one the other was looking for.
A soft, subtle smile forms on her lips. It’s a shadowed, echoing fragment of the smiles she used to give me—the smiles I didn’t cherish until I lost them.
Her arms slip around my neck, and she tucks her head under my chin, snuggling into my torso. “I know. You’re my Sebby.”
Sebby.HerSebby.
It’s been years since I’ve heard her say that name to me, and like before, I’m ready to kneel before her and let her rule over me.
I huff out a soundless laugh and kiss the top of her head. “Yes. I’m yours, Baby Girl. All yours. Forever yours.”
My arms wrap around her again, and I hold her—like she may vanish from the world at any moment, like she’s the most precious jewel in existence.
It’s a momentary reprieve. A magical, marvelous reunion of two incomplete souls who’ve finally found each other again.
Those bastards running the auction may come and ruin it any second, but I won’t let that probability put a damper on this moment. I’m too selfish.
I will memorize this moment and hoard the images for years to come.
Sarina tenses, interrupting ourbliss-filled moment. Her heart gallops, and she shoves away from me. Her head whips around as she spins in place, restlessly wringing her hands in front of her stomach.
“Sarina?” I approach her with caution, arms extended and ready to ease her back into them. “What’s wrong?”
Her frantic twisting continues, and her eyes dart towards the ceiling and the corners. “Cameras,” she whispers, never stopping her paranoid scanning of the room. “They have cameras. Everywhere. They can see everything. They’ll know we know each other and that you were pretending. They’re probably on their way here right now, and they’ll take me away from you again.”
I place my hands on her shoulders to prevent her hysterical spinning. “Shh,” I soothe, gently moving my hands up and down her upper arms. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.Solo respira,Sarina. Just breathe.”
She inhales through her nose and out through her mouth several times in succession, eyes locked onto mine. Her heart rate slows, but the panic remains, winding around her like a constricting snake. Her palms flatten against her stomach, and she steps closer, hiding herself beneath my towering stature.
I grip her chin between my thumb and forefinger, keeping her head in place as I speak to her. “When you spend as much money as I did to save you, they’re more than willing to do whatever you ask, including turning off the surveillance devices in the room yournew sub is in. And Brenna is outside, weaving an illusion, just in case they don’t keep their word.”
“Brenna’s helping you?” she asks.
“Yes. She gave us our only lead when we were searching for you.”
Her eyes widen. “Oh Goddess. Brenna.”
Her features twist with emotional pain, and she pushes by me, rushing towards the door. I follow her, staying only one step behind to keep her within my reach.
Sarina grabs the handle and tugs, but the door won’t open. It only opens with a special key.
She growls in frustration and pounds on the door. “Brenna!” she cries in time with the beating of her fist.
My hands settle on her hips. “She’s fine,” I reassure her.
“No, you don’t understand.” She sighs, glancing towards me. “I thought she… And then I—” She shakes her head and lowers her eyes to the floor. “I was so cruel to her. I said awful things to her, and I hurt her.”
