Chapter 49

When Xander walked into the house, I was lying curled on the couch. He approached me with caution.

“Hey,” he said gruffly.

I gave him a small smile. “Hey, yourself.”

He sat down on the table and faced me. “How are you feeling?” he asked, his eyes searching mine.

“Good.”

“Good?” he repeated.

My smile broadened. “Good.”

When he pulled me into his arms, I felt all my fear and worries dissipate at his touch. His arms felt like returning home after a long, grueling journey, and I was just happy to be held.

He inhaled my scent and kissed me like he needed the contact to survive and I kissed him back like he was all that has been missing from my life. When we finally pulled back and came up for air, his eyes were gleaming with pain.

“Would you forgive me?” he asked quietly. “I was wrong and I should not have said any of that.”

I spoke up after a while. “You really shouldn't have. Family is a fragile topic and we can't dictate other people’s relationships with theirs. I know my father is a horrible man and I want to hate him but, Xander, I just can't. I am going to wean myself off them though, I took a step, right? I left home so that is something.”

He took my face in his palm tenderly and kissed the tear that I didn't know had rolled down my cheek. “You did great and I am proud of you, love. I'm forever proud of you and whatever decisions you make, I promise to always stand by you.”

I let out a shaky breath. “Thank you,”

His eyes crinkled with affection. “I got you something,” he said.

I watched as Xander pulled out a black box from the inside of his jacket

“What is that?” I asked, laughing.

Xander opened the box and lifted a bracelet from it. I gasped at the sight of it. It was stunning and shimmering, the diamonds sparkled like a scattering of stars in the night sky. The chain seemed to glow with a warm, rich light, and the diamonds themselves left me breathless. He took my hand gently and wrapped the jewelry around my wrist and I felt my heart swell at the delicate way it sat against my skin.

“Xander…” I breathed.

“Do you like it?” he asked, kissing my knuckles, his dark eyes on me.

I couldn't find the words so I swallowed thickly and nodded.

“Great,” he said, settling down on the couch and lifting me to sit on him. “Let's stay like this for a while,”

“I can't believe this, Xander.,” I said, still staring at the diamonds on my wrist in awe. “This must have cost a lot. Are you sure about this?”

He quirked his brow, a hint of a smile playing on his mouth. “'My love, you are worth more than all the diamonds in the world, but this will have to do for now. And if you try to take it off, I'll just have to buy you another one... and another... until you get used to wearing pieces of my love.”

His words were laced with a daring arrogance that left me breathless, and I couldn't help but feel a thrill at the thought of being adorned by him.

“It does feel good,” I said, admiring my wrist. “And by the way, weren't we meant to go out last night.”

He gave me a look that left me laughing.

“I admit I did remember but I was too embarrassed to come, so tell me, what was the surprise?” I asked.

“I'll let you wither in suspense for another twenty-four hours,” he said, humor in his voice.

“C’mon, Xander! That's not nice,”

“You don't say,”

I watched him and I realized in that moment how much I truly loved him. It hadn't occurred to me before this moment that I was in love with Xander Blackwood but now that it did, it made sense, it made sense why all my thoughts and feelings revolved around him, why I missed him so much when we were apart and why I felt complete and at ease now in his presence.

It was all because I loved him and I loved him in a different way than I had loved Luke. No, these feelings for Xander were more intense, consuming, and obsessive. My love for him was beyond anything I'd ever felt before and I feared that he didn't feel the same, he hadn't mentioned it, and that thought alone scared me.

I knew with no doubt that he cared for me, he'd gone to lengths to free me from Donovan, he'd helped me with my family, and he'd shown over and over again that he cared deeply about my well-being but did it go beyond that? I feared the very answers to my own questions.

His expression changed—he must have seen the worry in my face. “Hey, hey, what's wrong?” Xander asked.

I shook my head. “Are you ever going to tell me what happened with Donovan?” I asked in an attempt to divert his attention.

“He's a money-hungry fool so I paid him off,” Xander said dismissively. “You should have told me about him sooner.”

“How much was it?” I asked.

Xander strokes my arm. “Not worth you, love, that's for sure. Forget it.”

I shook my head. “No, Xander; I need to know… I need to know how much my father got in exchange for me.”

He clenched his jaw, shut his eyes, took in a breath, and opened them back. “I want you to forget all about Donovan and what happened, I know it's hard but I don't want you to dwell on that anymore. Donovan is paying for ever laying his eyes on you and I need you to know that's all that matters.”

I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out.

He kissed the corners of my mouth. “I am here to protect you and I don't want to ever leave your side, I'm never going to. I promise you that, no one will ever harm you as long as I am with you. I love you and I'm not going anywhere.”

My eyes widened at the last sentence and surprise flitted in his expression but it disappeared in seconds.

“I love you, Kathleen. I don't think there has been a moment since the first time I saw you where I didn't love you.” He took my mouth in his and this time, the kiss was different than any other we've ever had.

“I love you, Xander Blackwood,” I murmured against his mouth. “I love you,”