Page 45 of Damaged Prince
“Boyfriend,” I correct. “Owen and I aren’t together.” I don’t know what we are. We both know we want one another, but we haven’t had any conversation apart from that. What if he’s not looking for a girlfriend right now? He’s currently so busy with hockey.
“Mhhmm,” Kai's chest rumbles with laughter. “I don’t think describing you as Owen’s girlfriend would be the right description for what he feels for you.”
“Yeah?” I ask, raising a brow. “What would that be?”
“That man is too obsessed with you. He’s so far gone, baby.” Kai laughs. “Maybe not boyfriend, but he is something to you.”
Yeah. He is. And label or not, that man is mine. They all are.
“Kai?” I ask, the smile slipping from my lips.
“Yeah, Sweetheart.”
“Eli’s past...” I over at his sleeping face, my heart hurting just asking this question. “Was he assaulted?"
Kai’s body stiffens. “What did he tell you?”
Fuck. No. Fucking hell no. I was hoping it was just my mind overthinking things. That I was just coming up with the worst-case scenario. I didn't want to be right.
My eyes sting as a sob gets lodged in my throat. “Nothing,” I managed to get out, just barely hiding the break in my voice.
The way Kai is looking at Eli right now answers my question. One I really fucking wish I didn’t ask.
I don’t say anything else, not needing to.
Who hurt him? Who touched him? Who do I have to kill? Because there’s no fucking way I’m going to let whoever it was live after I find out their identity.
“Elijah Cross is mine. And I will burn the fucking world down to protect this man,” I say through gritted teeth.
Kai steps forward, brushing the hair off Eli’s forehead before doing the same to me. His fingers linger on my face, thumb brushing my cheekbone.
“Me too, Sweetheart. Me fucking too.”
I don’t think Kai knows who hurt Eli. If he did, I don’t think they would be standing.
Kai looks at me like he knows what I’m thinking.
We will find whoever it is, and we will get justice for our man. There’s no doubt about that.
Chapter 9
Delaney
“Morning.” I smile when I walk back into the room after my shower. Eli is still in bed, looking adorably sleepy.
“Morning.” He smiles softly at me.
“Sleep well?” I ask, hair piled on top of my head. I’m dressed in a hoodie and sweatpants. While I’m excited to play in the snow, I’m not a fan of the cold.
“Like a baby,” he laughs, sitting up. The blanket pools around his waist, leaving just the top of the V on show. I can’t help but bite my lip in approval. “Eyes up here, Laney,” he chuckles.
“My bad.” I drag my eyes up to meet his.
“But is it really?”
“Nope,” I say, popping the P before sticking the toothbrush that I have fisted in my hand back into my mouth to finish brushing my teeth.
“Is that my hoodie?” Eli asks, brows furrowing.
