Page 189 of My Unexpected Mate

We stayed like that for a while. I planted small kisses on every part of her body I could reach. I kept telling her I loved her and that everything would be okay.

She eventually stopped crying, but she remained silent. And her silence terrified me. She hadn’t spoken a word since Gabriel and I came to Cassie’s room.

“Please say something, love,” I said quietly as I kissed the top of her head.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to hear her voice.

“I am sorry, Nick,” she said so quietly that I almost didn’t hear her.

I sighed in relief and tightened my grip around her. I placed my finger under her chin and raised her head.

“Thank, Goddess,” I said. “I missed your voice.”

Her eyes were puffy from crying, and her bottom lip was swollen because she kept biting it.

I leaned in slowly and placed my lips on hers. Addicting sparks spread from my mouth to the rest of my body.

The kiss was short and sweet.

“Why are you sorry, love?” I asked as I leaned my forehead against hers.

“Because I hurt you,” she said quietly.

I raised my head to look at her. Hurt me? When did she hurt me? I was the one who hurt her, not the other way around. Gabriel and I kept telling her what to do, and we never stopped to ask her about her feelings.

“When you saw me with Jake,” she said quietly after I didn’t respond.

Oh. That’s what she meant.

“I won’t lie to you,” I said as I cupped her cheek. “It did hurt. But I understand why you feel safe with him. I understand why you told them and not us. You thought we wouldn’t listen.”

She nodded and another tear fell from her eyes. I wiped it away with my thumb.

“The only thing Gabriel and I want is for you to be safe,” I said. “But we made the mistake of not talking to you. From the moment we met, we decided a lot of things for you. And it wasn’t right. But you know we never meant to hurt you, right?”

“I know,” she said.

“I am sorry, love,” I said and kissed her again.

She wrapped her arms around my neck and deepened the kiss. I was completely lost in her. All I could feel was her warm skin under my fingers. All I could taste was her. All I could smell was her sweet scent. She was a drug, and I was completely addicted to her.

She broke the kiss and leaned her forehead against mine.

“Maybe you could hang out with Jacob more often if you are going to kiss me like that after,” I said teasingly.

She chuckled and lifted her head to look at me.

“Really?” she asked and raised her eyebrows.

“No,” I grinned.

She shook her head and chuckled.

“Let’s go eat,” I said as I lifted her from my lap.

I stood up and took her hand in mine, pulling her up.

“I am not hungry,” she said.

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