Page 16 of Made for Reign

“Liar.” His voice is calm, but there’s steel underneath. “You’ve been checking out mentally for the past ten minutes. Something’s eating at you.”

I pull harder, panic starting to flutter in my chest. “Reign, please?—”

“Tell me.” He releases my wrist but doesn’t let me get far, his body blocking my path to the edge of the bed. “Whatever it is, just tell me.”

For one wild moment, I consider it.

I consider telling him everything. About Gio, about the engagement, about how my dad’s business is hanging by a thread, and I’m the collateral keeping it alive. About how tomorrow I’m going back to a life that feels like a beautiful prison.

The words are right there, pressing against my teeth, begging to be spoken. But then sanity crashes back in. This is a one-night stand. A beautiful, perfect night that’s supposed to end when the sun comes up. I can’t dump my problems on a stranger, no matter how good he is with his hands.

“It’s complicated,” I say instead, wrapping the robe tighter around myself like armor.

“Most things worth talking about are.”

I shake my head, looking anywhere but at his face. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me.”

The gentle command in his voice almost breaks my resolve. But I can’t. I won’t ruin this perfect night by making it about the mess waiting for me at home.

“Are you in trouble?” he asks when I don’t respond. His voice drops, becomes more serious. “Because if you are, I can help. That’s what I do. I solve problems for people.”

“What kind of problems?”

“Any kind. All kinds.” He reaches out, tilting my chin up so I have to look at him. “I’ve got resources, connections. If someone’s hurting you?—”

“No one’s hurting me,” I say quickly. “It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it like?”

I close my eyes, overwhelmed by the concern in his voice, by how much I want to lean into the safety he’s offering.

“It’s just family stuff. Expectations. Things I can’t change.”

“Anything can be changed if you want it badly enough.”

“Not everything.” I open my eyes, and the understanding I see in his face makes my chest ache. “Some responsibilities can’t be walked away from.”

We stare at each other for a long moment. I can see him processing, trying to read between the lines of what I’m not saying. Finally, he nods.

“Fine. You don’t want to tell me, that’s your choice. But you’re staying tonight.”

“Reign—”

“No arguments. If you won’t let me help with whatever’s waiting for you out there, then at least let me take care of you tonight.”

Something in his tone makes my breath catch. “Why are you being like this?”

His eyes darken. “Because I take care of what’s mine. And at least for tonight, that’s exactly what you are.”

The words should scare me. Should send me running for the door. Instead, they settle something deep inside me, some part that’s been wound tight for years, finally relaxing.

“Okay,” I whisper.

He studies my face for another moment, then seems satisfied with whatever he sees there. Without warning, he scoops me up again, cradling me against his chest as he settles us both back against the pillows.

“Sleep,” he murmurs, pulling the covers up over both of us. “Whatever you’re going back to tomorrow… Tonight, you’re safe.”

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