Chapter 26
“IhonestlythoughtI was going to die,” Kit said, his fingers clenched tightly around mine.
We’d lingered in the shower way longer than necessary, taking turns washing each other before we landed in bed with me on my back and Kit half lying on top of me. Neither of us had a stitch of clothes on, but that was okay. In another hour, I would only strip him naked again. Our time in the bathroom had been mind blowing, but it wasn’t nearly enough after the horror of the past three days.
I needed to consume him.
“I never wanted this for you, Kit.” I brought our hands up to my lips and kissed the back of his. “With every fiber of my being, I want you to be safe and happy.”
“But we know that’s not in your control,” he said softly. “And that’s why you’ve prepared me to take care of myself.”
“You shouldn’t have to.” I stroked along his spine, stopping when he shivered. “Cold?”
“A little.”
I grabbed the end of the sheet and tugged it up to his waist. “Better?”
“Hmm. Everything’s always better with you.”
I kissed his forehead, and he rubbed himself against me as if he wanted to burrow his way into my skin.
“Tell me how you ended up in Javier’s bed.” I didn’t mean to ask him, since he’d already reassured me he hadn’t slept with the cartel boss, but now that I’d said it, I was too curious to take it back.
“He kept me in a bedroom that remained locked except when they brought me food,” he replied. “That day he tried to torture me by slowly drowning me. He got into an argument with that Butcher guy who wanted him to continue when he stopped. I didn’t want to, but I was panicking so much that I started crying.” He tucked his face into my neck. “I’m sorry I was so weak.”
“Crying doesn’t make you weak. You didn’t want to die, and that’s understandable.”
“For some reason, he stopped and ordered the men to bring me back to the room. I couldn’t understand everything he and the Butcher argued about because they were talking in Spanish, but I knew it was about me.”
“And what happened?”
“That night, I was sleeping when someone came into the room. He was trying to strangle me at the same time he was ripping my clothes off. Javier must have heard it because he stormed in and punched him before he ordered the guy out. He took me to his room and told me I could sleep on the floor or in the bed. I was too exhausted and afraid to sleep alone on the floor, so I took the bed.”
“He protected you.”
“I don’t know why, but he did.”
“I’m jealous.”
Kit raised his head and peered down at me. “You are?”
“Yes. I’m supposed to be your only hero.”
He smiled. “How about this? You’re the only hero I’m in love with.”
I grunted. “It’ll have to do, especially since I owe him one for the way he defended you from his men. I still don’t understand why he did.”
“I don’t think he’s a bad guy, Sully. At least he didn’t come across as one when I was with him.”
I scanned Kit’s face. I knew the cartel leader didn’t affect him, but…
“Maybe, like me, he fell for your charms.”
Kit snorted. “My charms? What charms? You’re the only one who thinks there’s something special about me. Trust me, there isn’t.”
“There is. You just don’t see it.”
“Even if that’s true, I doubt it. Javier’s in love with Talon. He insisted I didn’t have to fear him raping me because I wasn’t his type. I believe he was being sincere.”