“All these years, living with a monster, I can’t even imagine. I had a monster chasing me for a few months and I nearly unraveled, Alec—”
“If she needs professional help, we’ll get that for her. She’s somewhere safe now. And he’s behind bars. Let’s focus on that first.”
“What about Doc? Has he gone?”
“Yes. He took photos of her injuries as evidence for Jake. Her finger is definitely broken, but not much can be done about it. Her ribs are bruised. He’s worried about her shoulder. He’s put her arm in a sling. She’ll need to go in for X-rays tomorrow.”
“And West?”
“Still holding it together,” Alec told her.
She hitched in a breath. “You’re worried he’s going to lose it like he did when Lana died,” she said quietly.
He just looked straight at her. “Yep.”
“You won’t let that happen.”
He looked away, out the window. She could see the memories were swamping him. She tightened her arms around him. “I thought I’d lose him back then. I wasn’t worried about the cops getting him. I wasn’t even worried about the repercussions from the family, but I worried I would lose my brother to the darkness that’s inside him.”
“We won’t lose him.”
“No, she won’t lose him. Because if anyone can save him. It’s her.”
He turned her around so she was straddling his lap and cupped her shoulders with his hands. “Kitten, I don’t want you blaming yourself for this. There’s only one person to blame.”
“I know.” And she did know it, but, still the guilt swirled in her stomach.
He studied her. Then he wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her off his thighs so she was standing in front of him. She made a noise of protest, not wanting to leave his lap. He just gave her a firm look.
“You lied to me earlier, kitten, when you told me you were all right.” She stilled. Did that tone mean what she thought it did? They hadn’t played since discovering she was pregnant.
“I also believe I told you earlier to stay in the house, yet you left without permission.”
“You told me to remain in the house so I would be out of the way of Butch and West who were about to get into it. I went out the front, towards Beau.”
“I told you to stay in the house. End of story.”
Her heart started to race. Not in fear. But in anticipation.
“I have eased up on enforcing rules since you’ve been pregnant. I’m starting to think that was a mistake. I can see I’m failing to give you what you need.”
“You could never fail me,” she told him quickly. She wouldn’t have him thinking that.
Those eyes filled with more warmth, and her knees went weak. It still shocked the
hell out of her that this huge, strong, handsome man was all hers.
He stood up and reached for her, pulling her close. His hands cupped her ass. “I know you’re still feeling guilty, kitten. Give it to me.”
She shook her head. She couldn’t give it to him. Not yet.
“Give it to me,” he demanded.
She shook her head again. She wanted to. But she couldn’t. He moved to the side, away from her, and she felt the loss of his touch immediately. She swayed a little.
“Jean’s and panties off. And then you’re over my knee.”
She just stared at him for a moment.