Page 187 of Savage Empire

“I don’t care if I have a knife in my chest, I still shouldn’t take it out on you.” I pull her as close as I can get her, breathing in her sweet scent.

“We can’t speak to each other the way we do normally when we’re angry,” I add slowly. “Bickering for fun quickly turns too harsh and too real when the time isn’t right.”

“Yeah,” Rayna whispers, nodding against my skin. “And I have to stop not trusting you fully. I keep messing everything up by trying to face everything alone. You’ve given me no reason to doubt you and I keep doing it.”

“We’ll work on it,” I assure her. “Together, okay?”

“Yeah.” She swallows, nuzzling in closer. “Together.”

“I never meant for you to assume I could ever stop loving you, Rayna. You could do a lot worse and what I feel for you wouldn’t go away. I swear it.”

“I love you too.”

The soft caress of those four words, they’re the only reason I’m going to be able to sleep tonight.

Chapter Fifty

Rayna

With everyday that passes, Apollo’s wounds heal a little bit more, and my stomach grows a little bit bigger. We’ve been attached at the hip since our big fight, quickly forgiving each other and choosing to move on. It was a horrible day, and we both made mistakes that we won’t make again.

Dante insisted that Apollo take time off from his responsibilities to recover, and when I vehemently agreed, he didn’t fight it. It’s been good for us to spend almost every hour of the day together. We’ve become closer, and more open. He’s allowed me to clean his wounds, and let me see him in a vulnerable state, and in turn, I’ve learned to trust him more.

It’ll be a process, but I just keep reminding myself that he’s more than proven himself. He’s not only provided a good life for me and Yordan, but he’s kept us safe, even when danger has sought us out. Though Abramo was the one who directly saved me from Luis, it was Apollo’s relationship with him that made it possible.

So, though days have passed, today I’m making something special for my husband. His favorite dark chocolate cake with raspberry mousse filling and whole raspberries on top. I haven’t bothered to spend much of my time baking since he’s been home. Opting to snuggle with him on the couch, and take small walks around the property together instead.

It’s been calm, and for that, I’m thankful. We needed a cozy week or so to counteract the absolute nightmare of a night we went through.

“Something smells delicious,” my husband rumbles, approaching me from behind. His hands surround my stomach as his chin drops softly onto my shoulder. “So this is where you snuck off to, hmm?”

I shiver as a small laugh leaves me. “I told you I was going to the kitchen.”

“Mhmm,” he agrees. “Twenty minutes ago. I thought you were getting a snack until you didn’t come back.”

“I’m making you a snack,” I reply, lips twitching. “It’s about to go in the oven, in fact.”

“Is that what I think it is?” he asks, lips peppering up my neck.

I suck in a breath and nod slowly. “It is.”

“You’re so good to me, love.” A slow, lingering kiss is pressed into the space where my neck meets my collar. “What have I done to earn this, hmm?”

“I just wanted to,” I admit, growing more flustered by the moment.

Pregnancy hormones have me turning on like a light switch recently, but Apollo has needed to take it easy. And I refuse to jump his bones if it’s not safe to do so.

“Put these in the oven, will you?” I ask breathily, turning around to hand him the first round pan.

“Of course,” he agrees easily, accepting the batter-filled tin.

Once all three are put into place, I set my phone with the correct timer and find him looking at me heatedly. The way he normally looks at me before he throws me into our bed and makes me forget my own name.

Licking my lips, I ask, “Tired?”

He chuckles, stepping closer while shaking his head. “We’ve been resting all day,micina.No, I’m not tired.”

“Hungry?” I try again. “I can make you something to snack on while we wait for the cake.”