Page 140 of The King of Hearts

“I don’t know,” I admit, and I really don’t. What happened wasn’t my fault, so I have nothing to apologize for. “I’m sorry you were scared. But even more…” My throat closes, but I force the words out. “I’m sorry for what happened to you.”

I drop my eyes from his to the hollow of his neck. Images of what was happening to him right before everything stopped flash in my mind. More tears gather in my eyes when I remember him bent over the bed. His eyes were locked on mine, and there wasn’t a hint of pain on his face, but I know what was being done to him had to have hurt.

My chin is grabbed, and my head is forced up. I look at him, even though I don’t want to. Not because I think less of him, it’s the opposite, actually. I can’t stand the thought of him in that situation. To be forced to endure what Aiden’s father was doing to him. It fucking hurts my heart, my whole soul, to think of him going through something like that.

“Whatever’s going through your head, fucking stop it.”

His voice is calm, not harsh, but his words are forceful.

“H-he hurt you.” My voice cracks. “You did that to save me. You shouldn’t have done that.”

“Stop, baby. You’re fucking killing me.” He drops a kiss against my lips. “I’m okay. He didn’t get far.”

“It doesn’t matter. Anything is too far.”

“Not when it comes to you. Not when I can save you from experiencing something much worse. I would do anything for you, Savina. Fuckinganything.”

Against all odds, and despite what Ryker has done to force me into his life, I’ve suspected for days that I love this man. Hearing him say those words, knowing what he was willing to sacrifice to save me, solidified that fact. But he has it all so very wrong.

“What Aiden would have done to me wouldn’t have been any worse than what his father was doing to you.” I don’t even attempt to stop the flow of tears now coursing down my cheeks. “There’snothinghe could have done that would have destroyed me more than knowing you were hurt like that.” I shake myhead, dislodging his hand from my chin. “Nothing, Ryker.” I’m almost crying hysterically now.

“Shh…” He pulls me forward, and I wrap my arms around his neck. His oceanic scent wafts over me, and I soak in that smell. “Baby, please.”

I never would have thought I’d ever hear Ryker West beg for anything, but the plea in his tone attests that even pigs could fly.

I stay with my arms around him, my face in the crook of his neck, until I’ve cried out all of my tears, and my eyes feel swollen. I sniffle and pull my head away.

He cups one of my cheeks. “I guess we’re at a stalemate,” he says, “because there’s never going to be anything I’m not willing to do to protect you. I’ll take what Theo did, and how much worse it could have been, a thousand times, over what could have happened to you.” He swipes away a stray tear from my cheek. “Not because you belong to me and it makes me fucking insane to even think about someone else touching you—although it does—but because I love you, Savina. I love you more than my ownership of you. I love you more than my possessiveness.”

And just when I think I’ve cried all the tears out of my body, the waterworks are back and in full swing.

I palm his cheek, the light scruff on his face prickling my hand. “I love you, Ryker. My devil.”

Hours and hours later,after a long, hot bath, in which Ryker tenderly cared for me in a pure platonic way, and after sleeping for twelve hours snuggled up to his body as close as I could possibly get, and then after breakfast in bed, in which he handfed me while I sat on his lap, we’re down in one of the sitting rooms.

Mom and I are sitting on a loveseat, my face in her neck as she silently cries in mine. Ryker wanted to give me another day before we had any visitors, but I know that wouldn’t go over very well with my parents and brothers. Besides, I didn’t want them to worry any more than necessary. My face is still all fucked up after what Aiden did to me, but I managed to cover a lot of it with makeup. Physically, I’m better than I could have been, but mentally, I’m still coming to grips with what happened. To me and to Ryker.

Mom pulls her face from my neck and gently grabs both of my cheeks in her small hands. Her eyes slide over every inch of my face, and I know she’s looking past the layer of makeup I slathered on before we came down. I’m sure Dad probably warned her of my state. I opted to wear a thin long-sleeved shirt to hide the bandages on my wrists.

Tears leak down her cheeks, and I hate seeing her so upset, but I know there’s nothing I can do to make that emotion go away. She’s my mother, and any good mother would be torn apart if their child went through what I did.

“How are you feeling this morning? Ryker said Dr. Bale was here last night. Has he been by today yet?”

“He’ll be here in a few hours. And I’m okay.” I give her a smile of reassurance, holding back a wince when the simple move irritates the corners of my sore mouth. “I promise.”

Her gaze drops to my stomach. “And the baby?”

“The baby is fine, too. Ryker and Dr. Bale listened to his heart last night. Everything is good.”

“Thank goodness,” she says and swipes the tears from her cheeks, only for more tears to fall. “I’ve been so worried about you both.”

I squeeze her hands in mine that’re sitting on my lap and glance up at Dad. His brows are pulled down into a frown, worry etching his features. I can only imagine the images going through his head after witnessing what his daughter went through last night. No father should have to see that. The same expression is on my two brothers’ faces.

I get up from my seat and go to Dad. His arms immediately open, and I walk straight into them. Maybe I should be embarrassed, knowing he saw me completely naked. Not only naked, but strapped to a bed and completely exposed, but that emotion isn’t even on my radar as I welcome his tight embrace. His familiar scent fills my senses, and I close my eyes as I soak it in.

We pull back and he does the same thing as Mom did; cups my cheeks and checks over my face. “Did Dr. Bale give you something for pain?” he asks.

“Yes, but I’m only a little sore, so I haven’t had to take it this morning.”

---