Page 61 of The Temptation

“No and no,” I repeat, cutting her off. I close the smalldistance between us and reach for Killer’s collar. “Come, boy,” I say.

“You’re taking him with you?”

“No, I’m going to put him outside.”

“Why?”

“Because.”

She drops her Kindle down beside her and scrambles to her feet. “Why can’t he stay inside with me? I don’t want to be left alone.”

The vulnerability in her eyes tugs at something deep in me.

“You won’t be alone,” I say softly. “One of my men will stay with you until I get back.”

Her brow furrows. “You’re letting someone else look after me?”

“Is that a problem?”

“You don’t usually let me meet your men,” she says, her voice cautious. “Has something happened?”

I release the dog’s collar and give him the command to sit. “Nothing’s happened, sweetheart. I have shit to do.”

“I want to come with you,” she demands, crossing her arms over her chest.

A smile tugs at my lips because I don’t think I’ll ever tire of her sassy mouth or attitude.

I lean in and press a soft kiss to her forehead. It’s only the second time I’ve done it, and I hate how natural it feels. Like it’s something I’ve done a hundred times before. But, like everything else running rampant in my head right now, I try not to overthink it.

I take a step backwards. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Can I trust you to behave yourself until then?”

She purses her lips. “I said I want to come with you.”

“Tough shit, you’re staying here.”

I retreat another step, putting a safe distance between us, when a tiny growl permeates the back of her throat.

“Come,” I say to the dog as I start moving towards the rear of the house.

“Romeo,” she calls out just as I reach the doorway. I glance back over my shoulder, bracing for more sass, but it’s not what I get.

Instead, there’s worry carved into her pretty face, softening all that fire she usually wears like a shield. Lucia Rossi is so fucking beautiful sometimes it hurts to look at her. Like the world had poured all its best parts into one woman. Her face, that body, and heavily accented voice are perfection.

But right now, I’m not seeing the fearless version of her. I’m witnessing the little girl underneath it all, the scared, vulnerable part she rarely lets anyone see. The one who’s been let down more times than she cares to admit, and damn if it doesn’t hit me right in the chest.

It brings something out in me. That deep, primal instinct to protect her from everything bad. To carry her worries on my back if it means she never has to feel like this again.

“You’re coming back, right?”

I inhale a sharp breath, filling my lungs, before slowly exhaling. I give the dog the command to sit again, and like always, he does as he is told.

I stalk back over, and she tilts her head to meet my gaze when I stop in front of her. “I’m coming back,” I say.

“Promise.”

Without thinking, my hand lifts, and my knuckle gently traces down the side of her face. She shivers at my touch. It’s slight, but enough for me to feel it.

“I promise, Luc.”