Page 52 of His Daggered Heart
“No,” I say quickly. “I don’t want you to see me, I haven’t even seen me.”
He clears his throat. “Alex Larae Monroe, you open this door and let me love you.”
“No,” I say again.
“Please, sweetness, I…” he pauses, his voice breaking. “I need to see you are okay. I need to,” he whispers.
I unlock the door and push it open. He lifts his head to look up at me and his eyes widen.
“Oh, sweetness.” Tears fall down his face. He opens his arms to me and I rush into them. “I’m so damn sorry, sweetness, both of us are. Kohen is torn up out there.”
“I know, I could hear y’all.”
He squeezes me gently.
“What if he thinks I’m worthless now?” I whisper.
He pulls back, looking at me and cradling my face. “Sweetness, that man couldn’t love and adore you more than if God himself came down and ordered him to. You own him,” he says, kissing my cheek.
“He’s right,” Kohen says firmly. My head shoots up, making eye contact with him. His eyes are swollen and red, his hair a wild mess, and he looks so tiny in this huge dressing room, defeated. He moves towards me and I hold my breath. Levi moves aside.
Kohen’s strong arms wrap around me and he rests his head on my shoulder. “I am so fucking sorry, angel. I should have been here, I should have.”
“It’s okay,” I say. “You got here, you saved me.”
“Did he?” he begins, looking into my eyes now.
I shake my head. “No, you got here in perfect timing.”
“Perfect timing would have been if he never touched you at all,” he says angrily.
“I know, handsome, but listen. If you had come earlier, they wouldn’t have been able to put him away, and trust me when I say he deserves everything coming to him.”
He still looks unsettled, and I know there is nothing I can say that is going to ease either of us fully right now.
“Are you okay? I know I already asked you but I also know this has to be fucking with you. Whatever you need, baby, I got you.”
He looks at Levi and then back at me. “We got you.” And that makes me smile.
“I’m shaken up, guys, and I’m hurting. But I’m okay. I know this old song and dance. I have dealt with it all alone for years. I’m strong, and besides, now I have you two and Cora. I will be fine. I want to know how badly he fucked up my face but not yet. I’ll wait until we are home and I feel safe.”
Kohen nods in agreement. He kisses me gently on the forehead, “I love you.” He kisses my nose. “So fucking much.” Then he kisses my lips.
Levi walks away, rubbing the back of his head. “I’ll wait out in the hall and let Cora know to meet us at home instead of the restaurant.”
“There is nothing in this world that could make me love you less, nothing that could deter me from making you mine forever, no force in this world could keep me from you, Alex Monroe. Don’t you know that by now?”
I’m crying again, I hate these tears. “I’m so tired of crying, I feel like such a weak little bitch.”
He cradles my face and forces my gaze. “No, baby, crying isn’t a weakness. It’s pure fucking strength. You are strong, angel. Weakness is never an option on the list of things I see when I look at you.”
“Damn right,” I say, agreeing with him. I tiptoe to kiss him. “Thank you for being my hero.” He shakes his head. But I stop him, grabbing his chin and forcing his gaze now. “I’m serious, handsome, not just today but every day since we met. Thank you for saving me.”
“I wish I could say you’re welcome, angel, but you never needed me to save you. You have been slaying dragons all on your own like a boss-ass bitch. I was just sent to hold your sword when you need rest.” I smile at that and he laughs.
“Can you get me the fuck out of here and take me home now, please?”
“Anything for my queen.” He smiles as he moves my hair from my face.