Page 172 of Meet Me In The Dark

Kingsley straightens just enough to spit something unintelligible, but he’s still too dazed to make it sting.

The sound of security’s heavy footsteps comes from the hall, right on cue. They stop in the doorway, taking in the scene.

I step closer, laying my hand flat against his chest in mock sympathy. “You’re ruined, Kingsley,” I say softly, almost kindly. “And not because of the black eyes. That’s only the garnish.”

Fifty-Seven

The ocean’s restless today with waves rolling hard and fast against the shore. I’m standing at Julian’s kitchen doors, palms pressed to the glass, trying to let the rhythm calm me. It doesn’t work. My hand throbs with every heartbeat, fingers stiff, knuckles swollen and angry red.

The front door slams.

“Celeste, what the fuck happened?”

I spin around, tears already hot on my cheeks, my uninjured hand clutching the injured one. The moment I see him, every bit of composure I’d been holding onto unravels.

“I love you,” I blurt.

His brows lift as the corner of his mouth quirks into a faint smile. “I know that already, baby.”

“I really, really love you,” I say again, voice cracking, like saying the words could make sense of everything I’m feeling.

“I know.” He takes a step closer, but I can see the concern building in his eyes. “Then why are you cryinglike that?”

“Because it hurts,” I hiccup out.

He freezes. “Loving me hurts?”

“No. My hand. It’s killing me.”

He’s already moving, grabbing an ice pack from the freezer and steering me into one of the kitchen chairs.

“It’s not broken,” he says, crouching in front of me. His big hands are careful as he takes mine and presses the ice against the swelling. Then, one by one, he kisses each knuckle, his lips warm against the bruised skin. “You just didn’t do it right. You need more lessons.”

“Tell that to Kingsley’s other eye.” I sniffle.

“Did he put his hands on you?”

“He didn’t get that far,” I say. My gaze meets his, steady despite the tears. “He said some…” My throat tightens. “Not very kind things about you, and I lost it.”

He leans in and presses a soft kiss to my mouth. When he pulls back, his thumbs sweep away what’s left of my tears.

“Welcome to my world,” he says quietly.

I rest my hand in his lap while he keeps the ice pack pressed against it, watching him as the pieces start to click into place.

“You bought the company?”

“Yes.” No hesitation. No apology.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It was a last-minute thing.” He adjusts the ice and keeps his eyes on my hand.

“You mean you wanted to teach him a lesson.”

“Yes. I told him to stay away from you, and he didn’t listen.” That tilt to his lips deepens. “Once his investor deal fell through, we knew nobody else would touch him. The board panicked. They sold Kingsleyand the company for a fraction of what it was worth.”

“Julian, I know people who work there.”