Page 72 of When He Fights
The deepest, darkest secret that he carried.He’d loved her for over two years.He’d love her until he died.
“You need to get some sleep, Ana.”Stilted.Gruff.“I’ll bunk on the couch.”
“You’ll be way too big for the couch.”She remained on the bed.
“Then I’ll sprawl on the floor.I’ve slept in far worse places than the Royal Suite.”Honeymoon suite.He exhaled.“You’ll be safe in here.You have to be exhausted.”
“So do you.”
“To get to you, any attacker will have to come through me.”He turned away from her.Marched for the bedroom door.“An attacker would have to get past me and past the two FBI agents in the hallway.You are safe.”
“Kane.”
His shoulders tensed.
“I know what you are.”
No, she had this romantic image of him.The bodyguard.The protector.“Even killers can do an occasional good deed.”
“And even heroes can get pulled into the darkness sometimes.”
Now he did glance back at her, stunned.
“I used to have a thing for bad boys.Boys.”She shook her head, as if mocking the term.“Seems silly now.When I much prefer strong men.”
He would not go to her.Even though every cell in his body yearned for Ana.
“I know exactly what you are, Kane Harte.I just wish you knew, too.Do me a major favor?Stop seeing yourself as the villain.Villains don’t protect the way you do.If you were as twisted as you’re trying to claim, you would never be here with me.”
Oh, she still didn’t get it.A smile pulled at his lips, and he knew it was savage.“Oh, Ana, you don’t understand me at all.”
A faint line appeared between her eyes.“Then make me understand.”
“I’m here because you’re my obsession.”No, she was so much more.“And no one hurts what belongs to me.”
Then he left the room.Had to leave because if he’d stayed there even five seconds more, he would have gone back to that bed.Kissed her.Taken her.
You are my obsession.
Screw that lie.She was his whole world.
The bedroom door closed.
Ana remained crouched on the bed.The rose petals stuck to her clothing.She batted them away even as Kane’s words rang in her head.
You are my obsession.
She didn’t want to be an obsession.Not for Kane.
She was Logan’s obsession.Hadn’t Emerson said those same words?Logan viewed her as a possession.Something that he would not let go.He’d even kill to punish her.
But Kane…
Kane will kill to keep me safe.
And, honestly, she was really over Kane’s bullshit.Two years over it.
Eyes narrowing, Ana climbed from the bed.She ignored the rose petals that fluttered around her.She ditched her shoes.Her jeans.Her shirt.Clad in only her bra and panties, Ana squared her shoulders.
