Page 95 of The Lord who Seduced Me
She pounded her fists on his back, and he slid her from his shoulder into his arms. “I will not put you down. You ran before I woke.”
Rose crossed her arms and glared at him. “I couldn’t take it Cabe. I still cannot. It was too much. Seeing you shot Cabe. I thought you died. I truly saw you unmoving, and unbreathing on the floor. What was I to do? I was in such shock and I could not stand it. Nathaniel tried to keep me there, but I needed to get away. I had to get away from it.”
Cabe took her mouth in a kiss, “I know my love. Truly I understand. I thought I was dead too. It was close, but I am here now. I will never leave you again. But you should not have run from Nathaniel. Or from the ship. You could have been hurt Rose. Never again will you do that. I need you Rose. And I love you. More than my next breath.”
Rose gasped and he kissed her again. He pulled his mouth from hers and glared at Cole, who looked like he wanted to stop him. “I am taking my woman home. You will stay out of my way Cole. I don’t want to hurt you.”
Cole hesitated, “I won’t stand in your way Cabe. I promise, just do not hurt her Cabe. She has suffered in your absence.”
Rose stared at Cole, shocked he was letting Cabe storm into the house like this and taking her. “You are letting him do this?”
Cole shook his head, “Yes, I am. You need him Rose. Go.”
Cabe strode from the house, his leg not hindering his stride in the least. He climbed into his carriage and held her tightly.
She opened her mouth to say something and he shook his head, “No. I am still upset that you ran. Left Nathaniel’s protection and came home in that hack in nothing but your nightclothes.”
She glared at him the entire way to his house, and when he got out of the carriage, she started fighting him. “I know I did. But Cabe you need to put me down! I am capable of walking.”
Cabe held her tighter, “Be still.” He hissed and then brought her into his bedchamber.
* * *
Cabe took a moment to breathe. He had his woman in his arms and that was all he needed. He put her on the bed and climbed on top of her.
Pulling her in for a kiss, he held her close. Tonight, he had almost lost it all and while he had not, it had been damn close.
If Nathaniel had not been there, who knows what would have happened?
Cabe held Rose all the tighter. Grateful that he had that flask in his jacket pocket. He was in such a hurry that he picked up Case’s long coat instead of his own.
He was damned glad he had, or he would not be alive right now. As it was the bullet hit the flask and the flask hit his chest so hard, he could not breathe, and the world had gone dark around him.
Until Nathaniel had hit him in the chest and it all came back when he had gasped for air.
The first thing he looked for was Rose, but she wasn’t there and Nathaniel had explained that she ran from him and that her face held such heartbreak it was hard for Nathaniel to see and he had lost her.
And Cabe had growled at his friend for losing her, then looked around the cabin, trying to see it through her eyes.
Lucius’ body was face down on the ground, blood pooled around him.
He groaned and when he looked down where he had lay, and there too was a dark pool on the floor. But it was a mix of dark, red wine and some blood.
His shirt was open and sure enough, the flask had broken open where it had been shot and had sliced his chest open in a few places. He also had a large bruise in the center.
He was so lucky that he was not dead.
He blinked and was back in his bedchamber with Rose in his arms.
He held Rose tighter, and once again thanked his lucky stars that he was still alive to do so.
She let out a sob, and he pulled away from kissing her and she hugged him tight.
“You came for me! You almost died for me. Cabe! Oh Cabe! I have missed you so.” She sobbed and he kissed her forehead softly.
“I am here. I just got back early this morn, and as soon as I was able, I came to claim you. To ask you to marry me. But then I came home to my worst nightmare. You were gone and I knew it was my fault you were taken.”
Rose looked at him, tears still slipping down her cheeks. “It wasn’t your fault Cabe. You didn’t ask to have me be taken.”
