Page 101 of Sinful Kingdom

“I love you too,” I whisper as stupid tears burn the backs of my eyes.

I could have lost him. If I didn’t do what I did, when I did, he might have died up there on that cross and I never would have had this again.

24

ALEX

It might have hurt, but I wanted to keep Evie’s weight pressing down on me for as long as I could. Also having my semi still inside her was a definite benefit for the position as well, but predictably, she rolled off me after a few minutes, too scared of hurting me.

I didn’t voice the words, but I’ve discovered after everything I went through that the only thing that could truly hurt me now would be her figuring out I’m not worth it and turning her back on me.

I’m not the guy she first met. I don’t need to look at the bandages littering both my arms to know that. She keeps saying all the right words, but under all my bravado and confidence, even I admit I’m scared.

And my concerns only multiply when I look over and find tears streaked down her rosy cheeks.

“Evie, what’s wrong?” I ask, my heart in my throat.

I swear to God, if she tells me that all of this, coming back here, having sex with me was a mistake, then I’m not entirely sure how I’m going to move past it.

Thankfully, that’s not what happens.

Instead, a shy smile tugs at her lips as she shakes her head.

“Nothing. I just… I got a little bit overwhelmed with everything a-and—” she stutters, lifting her hand to wipe her cheeks. “All these stupid thoughts hit me about what could have been, and I’m so fucking happy they never happened, that you’re here.”

Her tiny hand lands on my jaw and she stretches up to give me a slow, sensual, relief-filled kiss.

The saltiness of her tears coats my tongue, making me wish I could steal them all straight from her eyes and take the pain away.

The intensity of the kiss never increases, and after a few minutes, she pulls away, resting her head on the pillow beside me.

Rolling onto my side, I ignore the pain in my arm beneath me and reach the other out, tugging her closer.

“Talk to me, Evie. I want to know everything from the minute I left for my exam.”

She closes her eyes for a beat, and I start to think she’s going to refuse, but then they open again, her lips part, and she starts talking.

“I thought I was being a rebel by going outside to do yoga. I needed to relax after everything that had happened, all the awful things I said to you. I knew it was a risk being out there alone, but as it turns out it might have just saved my life. It gave me the head start I needed when they descended on the cabin.”

“That never should have happened, but they were on to us. They’d mapped out our security’s schedule and knew the best time to strike. I’m so sorry.”

She searches my eyes, her face serious. “It’s not your fault. It was inevitable.”

“It shouldn’t have been though. I promised to protect you.”

“I’m here, aren’t I?" she says with a smile. “A dog called Murphy saved me.”

I can’t help but mirror her grin.

“A dog called Murphy?” I question.

“Yep,” she says happily before explaining everything from how she ran from the deck to begging a random woman to drop her at Dad’s house, promising her that they’d take care of her.

She tells me about her time there and how the guys were out almost every hour of the day, trying to put a plan together. How wrecked my dad looked with me missing and about a little middle-of-the-night bonding session they had. And then to her eavesdropping on his office.

“I hope you realise that listening in to sensitive information can come with a death sentence,” I warn in a low, deadly voice.

She swallows nervously.

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