Page 167 of Risky Obsession

A bittersweet smile tugged on his lips, yet pain swam in his eyes.

“Thank you for telling me,” I said. A question burned in my brain, yet I hesitated to ask until the knot in my stomach tightened to unbearable. “Kane, does this mean you forgive me?”

He scooped my hair around my ear and cupped my cheek. “Yes, I forgive you.”

A sob burst from my lips as I wrapped my arms around him. The tears I’d been holding back released as relief washed through me.

He crushed my body to his, and as I listened to his heartbeat, I wipedtears from my cheeks. “Thank you. That means the world to me. I promise I will never lie to you again. No matter what the situation.”

“I’m so –”

“Okay, you two love birds,” Rosalina said, cutting Kane off. “Who wants dessert?”

“Or whiskey?” Archer appeared behind her.

“Or both.” Rosalina swept across the deck toward us like she was on roller skates, carrying a tray topped with an assortment of bite-sized sweet treats.

Kane and I stepped apart, and the wonderful moment we’d had was taken over by his friends and another round of celebrations.

Each time Kane glanced at me, I was certain there was something he desperately wanted to ask.

I just hoped my response wouldn’t ruin the beautiful connection between us that we’d finally repaired.

CHAPTER 34

Lacey

Iwoke with my limbs tangled in the sheets and every muscle in my body aching. Squinting into the darkness, I tried to work out where I was. When the room rocked, I remembered I was on Archer’s yacht. The gentle sway of the boat was a stark contrast to how my battered body felt.

The pillow was empty on the other side of the massive bed. Did Kane come to bed with me last night? I'd been so exhausted, and just a tad drunk by the time I’d dragged my body to bed last night alone that I couldn’t recall him coming in after me.

Fighting the pounding in my head, I rolled toward his side. The sheets were still crinkled, and the pillows still had a lingering scent of him. He must have slipped away while I was asleep.

A small smile tugged at my lips. He had slept with me.

I just wished I could remember it.

“Damn it,” I muttered, pushing myself upright. My head throbbed like a freight train, and my stomach churned.

How much did we drink?

I pressed a button on the bedside table to open the blinds, and sunlight streamed in so brightly, I had to squint against the glare.

Jesus. What time is it?

I flicked the sheet off my legs, and my gaze snagged on the stitches nearmy right knee. After everything I’d been through, it was surprising they were still intact. Maybe the salt water from yesterday was good for the wound.

The plush carpet was like slippers beneath my feet as I crossed the room to the bathroom. In the shower, the warm cascade bombarded my skin, and I felt every bruise on my body. The pounding in my head screamed for some painkillers.

How did Kane get up so early? He drank much more than me.

I toweled off, and after using the lovely lotions again, I pulled on a pair of sweatpants that Rosalina had given to me and rolled up the hems to make them fit, and pulled on a T-shirt.

I strolled along the passageway and following the sounds of clattering dishes and upbeat music, I headed toward the kitchen.

I entered the main entertaining area. Sunshine blazed in through a row of windows that captured the stunning view across the water to the orange-colored cliffs that hid a sinister Nazi secret.

Rosalina stood behind the counter and hummed to the music as she washed the dishes.