Page 61 of Tempting the President

Gaaaaaaah.

This was so not the confession I wanted to have an audience with. I stood up and tugged on his hand, telling him to get to his feet, too. He seemed to pale upon realizing I wanted a privatemoment with him, which of course left me even more bemused.Really, what was wrong?

Bobby pointed to the door to her right, saying helpfully, “No one’s inside the study lab. You guys can talk there.”

“Thank you.” Kellion’s voice was extremely grim. He opened the door for me, and when I preceded him inside, he took his time locking the door, as if he was reluctant to face me.

When he finally did turn around, I was ready. WHAT’S WRONG? I had even underlined the second word, just so he’d know how worried I was.

He swallowed again. “Last night...”

I swallowed, too.

“I’m sorry.”

I paled.

He paled, too. “I’m sorry if I hurt you. I didn’t mean to. I would never want to hurt you, never in a million years. I’m even sorrier that I can’t remember a thing from last night—-” He paused, raking a hand through his hair. “I’m just fucking sorry I violated—-”

Oh.

My eyes widened in belated understanding. I hastily scribbled on my board.YOU DIDN’T DO ANYTHING.

He blinked. “But Helios—-”

I raised a brow.

“He told me...” His voice almost became accusing. “He told me you left intears, dammit.”

I glared at him, not appreciating the reminder.

“Did you?”

I just kept glaring.

His hands gripped my arms and he actually shook me as he growled, “Answer me.” He took my hand, the one holding the pen, and placed it on the board.

Knowing it was pointless to refuse, I scribbled my answer.YES.

“Why?” But this time, he sounded...sick, and I didn’t like it.

I looked at him, and the look in his eyes mirrored his tone. I wrote again.YOU REALLY DON’T REMEMBER?

He shook his head. “And I’m not even sure if I want to,” he said roughly. “If it means remembering that I hurt you—-” He stopped, seeing me writing.

YOU DIDN’T HURT ME, I PROMISE.

“Then why were you crying?”

My fingers stilled, my pen hovering hesitantly over the board. How much should I tell him? Kellion was so proud. Only someone with such great pride would have been able to pretend like he did, would have been able to survive the way he did, without ever uttering a single word against his parents.

It made me think of how I was withmyown shitty parents, and my heart ached when I realized just howniceKellion Argyros was. They had hurt him so badly, but somehow, Kellion stillhadn’t allowed himself to hate them, had even managed to still respect them. And love them.

Nice.

He was so, so nice, he had somehow become blind to just how beautiful he was, inside and out. So, so nice, he had really believed someone like me could be capable of being just as blind and as hurtful as his parents.

My eyes blurred but the world became clearer at the word.