Page 21 of Satisfying the King

I stepped up on the fence and touched the long nose of a large, brown horse.

“Ah,Capo,” Carlo said in his delicious Italian accent, patting the horse’s cream-colored mane. “Are you showing off for my girl?”

My head snapped to Carlo’s, and I had to laugh.

Carlo rubbed underneath Cabo’s neck and said, “Watch out for this one. He’s a heartbreaker.”

“So, did he learn it from you? Or did you learn it from him?” I touched Cabo’s beautiful mane. It was soft and rough at the same time. And the contrast it made against his dark brown coat was really gorgeous.

Carlo gazed over at me, and his eyes scanned my face. His voice was low, and to be truthful—the raspy sound of it turned my insides completely to mush. “I know I was an asshole to you, Giselle. And I’m not proud of that time. Or the disgusting way I treated you. But I am a jealous asshole. I think you get that. And knowing that you weren’t—mine—” he inhaled a deep breath, “drove me fucking crazy. In my head, I already had the rest of our lives mapped out.”

He looked back toward the break in the trees. “And knowing you already had a relationship with Stefan—just about fucking killed me.”

Forget mush.

My poor heart had liquified at his words.

“Being a dick to you was my way of gaining the upper hand. And it was wrong. You didn’t deserve it.”

He’d brought back all of those icky feelings from that even ickier time. Tears clouded my eyes and I tried to blink them away.

“I’m so fuckin’ sorry, Giselle. If I could take back everything—I would do it in a second.”

I couldn’t handle it.

I couldn’t handle him.

I couldn’t handle his words.

Not one more word.

Or I’d melt right here in front of him.

I stepped down off the fence and wrapped my arms around him. The more I attempted to hold back my tears, the worse the burning behind my eyes became.

“I love you, Carlo,” I sobbed into his chest. “I’m sorry, too.”

His arms circled me and held me close. “Shh, don’t cry.” He kissed the top of my head and sighed. “We found our way here. That’s all that matters now.”

I knew he’d meant that to be comforting—but instead, it made me even sadder. Because I knew that this trip with him was a one-off. The wonderfulness that he and I had found wouldn’t last. Not for much longer, anyway.

I couldn’t say that, though.

No, he’d find out—when he found out.

I filled my lungs with his piney, manly scent.

And then I moved away as much as he’d let me. “Oh, gosh,” I wiped under my eyes, “I need to stop. Where are the others? Why’s it taking them so long?” I gazed over at the break in the trees and still didn’t see anyone.

“Because they’re giving us some alone time.” Carlo used his thumbs and dried my cheeks.

I looked up at the massive lumberjack in front of me. “Alone time?” I asked, unable to understand what exactly he meant. We’d started out the walk with the others. And no one had mentioned a thing.

He nodded and touched his lips to my forehead. “Yes, I asked for some time with just you.”

I frowned and set my hands on his chest. “You did? Why?”

He chuckled and dipped his head down to me. “I’d be offended if you weren’t so fucking cute.” His lips touched mine and then he let me go. Except for my hand.

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