Page 129 of Risks of Temptation

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Malin

Ma belle statedthings I didn't want to admit. I loathe myself for them. I know what is right and wrong. This isn't a gray area. Freedom is everything I stand for.

But I won't lie to her. She doesn't deserve a coward. And I'm not sure how to take her admission.

We need to get away from here. Once we are gone, she will see she is free, and what we need to do in front of the Global Leaders is not who we are together.

What if she doesn't?

What if I fall further and my demons win?

She stirs, snuggling into my body, and I kiss her head. She glances up. "Malin?"

I stroke her cheek. "Yes, ma belle."

"I don't want to stay in this room any longer. I can't be around the eyes anymore."

"We're leaving today."

"Where are we going?"

"I don't know. I need to speak with Gustave. But we aren't staying here."

Her eyes turn darker. "I want to shower. But I need you with me. The eyes..."

"What do you mean?"

"They are on the ceiling. I can't handle them anymore."

"Okay. Let's go. Look at me or keep your eyes closed."

"Thank you." She kisses me as if nothing between us has changed and I'm still worthy of her love.

I'm not. Everything I did the night prior makes me a man who shouldn't receive any of her affection. But I take every bit of it I can, trying to give her all the pieces of me she wants and needs.

We shower, and I shield her from the eyes. I dislike them as much as she does. They are the President's. I'm not sure if ma belle realizes it or not, but the moment I saw them, my gut flipped.

He still wants her. Until I destroy him, she will never be safe.

When we step out of the shower, I put a towel around her and then myself. I take her hand, lead her out of the suite and down the hall. We go into the room I stayed in, and I open the closet door.

She touches a few of the items. Her eyes sparkle. "Are these for me?"

I slide my hands over her cheeks and into her hair. "Yes. When we get where we're going, I'll take you shopping, and you can pick whatever you wish."

She scrunches her face and takes a deep breath. "I wouldn't know how to choose. I'm not used to such things."

"Do not stress, ma belle. If you prefer, I will have a shopper pick for you."

"And I need these types of clothes?"

My chest tightens. "My role will no longer be on the side it was. I will be next to Gustave. We will be at events."

She nods. "Please have a shopper select my outfits. If it isn't too much trouble?"

"Of course."