Page 94 of Bitter Queen (Advantage Play 4)

He cares.

Licking my lips, my face scrunches from the pain, then I release an unsteady breath and shake my head back and forth in an attempt to put his mind—and his guilt—at ease. “It didn’t get that far.”

His relief is palpable as he leans forward and…stops. My brows furrow. I could’ve sworn he was going to kiss me. But he didn’t. Why didn’t he kiss me?

Sensing my confusion, he clears his throat then presses a soft kiss to my forehead. “I’m sorry.”

“What? Why?”

“Because I left you alone—”

“Sei wasn’t stupid, D. He knew what he was doing, and he was determined to get his hands on me. If it wasn’t last night, then it would’ve been tomorrow or the day after that.”

“Doesn’t make me feel any better, babe.”

Babe.

Maybe we are okay, and I’m just being paranoid.

With a soft smile, I nuzzle into his hand and close my eyes. “You found me. That’s all that matters.”

“Doesn’t feel like enough.”

“It is.” I turn my head and kiss the palm of his hand. “I love you, D.”

Shoulders hunched, he removes his touch. Its absence feels like a bucket of ice water has been poured on me.

“D—”

He scrubs his face roughly. “You don’t have to say that just because I feel like shit that I couldn’t protect you.”

“What? I’m not just saying it.” The soft mattress makes it difficult to push myself up when every inch of my body is aching. But I shove aside the discomfort and make sure I have D’s full attention as I sit up and hold his agonized stare.

“I know you’re afraid that I’m only with you because it’s convenient. I know that I’m the one who planted those seeds of doubt, and if I could take it back, I would. Because there isn’t any doubt for me. Not anymore.”

“Q—”

“I’m serious, Diece. I’m so sorry I made you doubt my feelings. That I made you wonder whether or not I care about you. I feel something for you that I can’t even put into words because I love you doesn’t begin to do it justice. It’s funny. As you led me up to Matteo’s door all those nights ago, I felt like I’d been transported to the castle in Beauty and The Beast. I wanted to laugh at how ridiculous I felt, comparing my situation to a fairy-tale when I was terrified out of my mind. But I couldn’t have been more right. And in my own way, I think I still found my prince.”

“You should get some rest,” he deflects. It’s as if my words have burned him when I was hoping they’d ease the ache I’d inflicted before I was taken. This is all my fault.

Pushing to his feet, he heads to the door when my weary voice stops him.

“Where is he?” I don’t bother to say his name. We both know exactly who I’m referring to. “Is he alive?” I press.

With a subtle nod, he faces me again. “He’s in the shed.”

“You brought him back home?” The word slips past my lips before I can stop it.

Home.

Kingston’s estate isn’t home. In fact, I’m not even sure where Diece really lives when shit isn’t hitting the fan in the Romano family. But it’s home to me. Because it’s where Diece is.

“Yeah,” he answers me before snaking his hand behind his neck. Then he squeezes it and adds, “We figured you might want to talk to him.”

“Talk?” I challenge unconvinced.

“Whatever you want,” he returns with a shrug. “He’s not going to walk out of that shed, though. Not after everything he put you through.”