Page 76 of Tempting the President

I laughed harder.

He said pleasantly, “If you tell a living soul about it, I’ll kill you.”

That only had me laughing even more, and a moment later, I could feel his own body rocking with silent mirth behind me. He took my hand, lacing our fingers together, and when my laughter died, he said, “I would have killed you, you know.”

I twisted my head around to look at him in shock.What?

Kellion’s lips curved. “But I won’t. The sound of your laugh’s too precious.”

The words took me by surprise. I squeezed his fingers, as hard as I could—-

Kellion winced. “Why are you crushing my fingers?”

Glaring at him, I pointed to his mouth, moving my fingers in a talking motion and then I tapped my chest, curling my fingers in a fist.Because that’s how you made ME feel, and I don’t like it.

“Do I have to remind you that you don’t actually know how to sign?”

I grabbed a pillow, intending to hit his face with it. But of course, Kellion’s reflexes were abnormally fast, and he had no problems blocking my move. With a low chuckle, he snatched the pillow and set it aside. “You’re the only girl I’ve ever dated who seems to want to hit me all the time.”

I lifted my chin.I’m darn proud of it.

“And for some reason, I like it.”

I wrinkled my nose.Then you’re weird.

He moved forward and kissed my mouth. It was the briefest of touches, but it was still enough to have my toes curl. Even so, I automatically tried rubbing the feel of his mouth from my lips, making Kellion grin. He pulled my hand away and kissed me again. But this time, before I could retaliate, he had already flipped me around, and I found myself lying against his chest once again.

Behind me, he asked, “How much do you know about me?”

I stilled.

“When I was drunk, how much did I tell you?”

Fumbling for my phone, I slowly typed my answer.Everything.

“I see.”

I twisted around and cupped his face. “You’re...mad?”

“Ashamed.” His voice was toneless.

Again, my chest tightened, so, so tightly that it made my voice shake harder as I said, “Nothing...to be...ashamed...of.” When he didn’t answer, I touched his face gently, a plea for him to meet my eyes.

And it was a plea he answered because while the whole world knew Kellion Argyros to be many things – a player, a daredevil, a man who most people would fear to cross – with me, he was different...had been different from the start.

With me, he had always been the man who made each day a little brighter.

Looking at his eyes, his face,hurt,and knowing that it was partly because of me hurt even more. Swallowing, I told him more emphatically, “Nothing...nothing to be...ashamed...of. If someone...should be...ashamed...it’s...your...parents.” I pointed to myself. “If...someone...has...something...to be...ashamed...about.” My lips twisted. “It’s me.”

Kellion’s face had paled while I was speaking and by the time I finished, he was shaking his head. How different he was from Dan and Amelie. My parents liked to hear my voice even if it was hurting me, but Kellion—-

Kellion brought my fingers to his lips. Kissed them one by one before whispering, “Don’t force yourself to speak for me.”

I shook my head. “You...don’t...get...it...do you?” My shoulders lifted in a helpless shrug. “You...matter...to...me...now....so...much...that...if...you’re...broken...” A painful laugh escaped me. “I...want...to...break...alongside...you...too.”

Kellion’s face was pained. “Dammit, baby, no—-”

I placed a finger over his lips, silencing him. “I...know...your...inner...demons.” I inhaled deeply, knowing that every word from here on would tear me apart. “Let...me...show...you...mine.”