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“What?” he questions, and I realize I’d been staring at him for a long while.

Scooting up in bed, I tug the sheet along with me, but he’s having none of that. His hand grips the material, pulling it down, so my chest is bare to him. A low growl reverberates through him, and I have to squeeze my thighs together to calm the ache that’s so apparent when he’s near me.

“You’re a lover not a fighter,” I remark, as he leans in to press soft kisses to my neck, making his way down to my collarbone, my shoulder, and then to my now hardened nipple. Etienne sucks the bud into his mouth, taunting and teasing me, until I’m squirming on the mattress.

“I’m a lover for one person only,” he murmurs against my wet flesh. His tongue darts out, flicking against my nipple, and within seconds, he’s above me, his body nestled between my thighs. “I want nothing more than for you to smile, to be happy, and I’ll be beside you until you’ve found that peace.”

“Why me?” I finally ask the question that’s been on my mind since the first day he flirted with me. “All this time, with everything that’s happened, you’re still here, even with my real father trying to break up the Sovereign by taking Tarian’s seat.”

He nods slowly. “Family doesn’t just mean blood, but the brotherhood I found with Ares and Tarian means more to me than anything. You came along and…” His words filter into the silence of the bedroom. I wonder, briefly, if he’s going to answer me, expecting him not to when he does. “You’re the unexpected beauty who I can’t get out of my fucking head.”

This time, I can’t help but laugh. “Okay, and what about this morning? Is Thane still here?”

Etienne shrugs. “I left Ares to tell Thane to get out of his house, but he better be gone when I get down there.”

“We should go together,” I tell him confidently. “I want to be next to you through this.” He nods, but doesn’t say anything so I continue, “And I want to sit down and talk to your father.”

“No.”

“What? Why?”

He’s off of me in the next moment, and I watch him move toward the window. Pushing off the bed, I follow him, sliding my arms around his waist. “Please, Etienne. This will mean a lot to me. If he can see how strong I am, how willing I am to tell him about Fergus, he’ll respect me.”

“He should fucking respect you without you giving him information, little wolf,” Etienne growls, and I feel the vibration in his chest.

“I know, but not everyone will always do things your way or how you’d like them to do it.” My reminder stills him.

Etienne turns in my arms, cups my face, and plants his lips on mine. A kiss so gentle and sweet, you wouldn’t think I’m standing naked before him. When he breaks away, I stare into those dark eyes, ones that hold so many secrets, so many memories, and I want to climb inside and scoop them all out.

“Tell me who you are,” I finally utter.

“Who I am?”

“Yes. I know you grew up with your mother, your father left, and you were alone. I can see the pain in your eyes,” I inform him gently, hoping I don’t anger him with my observation, but he doesn’t push me away or fight me.

“I was a child who didn’t know what love was,” he admits. “I went to seek it out and found Yasmine.” Even at the utterance of her name, I feel the agony slicing through my chest. “But she’s nothing to me. I was used.” His voice is even, his tone serious. “Nothing can change what happened in the past, but the future is wide open. It’s mine for the taking.”

Tipping my head to the side, I question, “And I’m in your future?”

Etienne stares at me, a small smile dances on his lips, making him look young and innocent, but I know that purity was lost long ago.

“When I was down there, right beside Yasmine, when I looked into her eyes and inhaled her perfume, I felt sick. It was as if I was finally seeing the darkness and didn’t want to run toward it anymore. Something clicked, and I knew what I had to do. You know what gave me the strength to tell her exactly how I feel?” He doesn’t wait for me to respond before he continues, “You.”

“Me?” I’m shocked, and my tone makes it clear.

Etienne nods. “You’re the only woman I need in my life. I may be a bit of an asshole, and there are times I’ll fuck up,” he chuckles as he says this, and I have to agree, nobody is perfect. Not even me. “But I’ll care for you for as long as you want me there. And even when you chase me off, I’ll still be there, lurking in the background.”