“... Mikey?” My name is barely a whisper, and the sound fucking destroys me.
My mind is in overdrive now, and I don’t give a fuck about the rules, signs, or anything else. I slip inside the bathroom and make sure no one else is in there. When the coast is clear, I lock the door.
When I turn back around, I see her standing at the sink, gripping the counter with her head down, and her shoulders are shaking.
“Hey,” I whisper, stepping closer to her. “Princess…”
She tries to talk, but her breath catches, and she chokes out a sob instead.
“I’m sorry,” she says, eyes still down towards the counter. “I just… I needed a second.”
“You can have all the seconds you want,” I reach out slowly to her, making sure not to spook her. “Just don’t run from me.”
She finally lifts her eyes, and I can see they are full of fear. Not fear of me, but something bigger, and I have a strong gut feeling she isn’t going to tell me what it is either.
“I shouldn’t be here,” she whispers. “I shouldn’t be with you… or Kai. I shouldn’t…” Her voice trails off.
I cup her cheeks gently. “...Princess. Look at me.”
She does, and she looks so broken and terrified, but also beautiful.
“You’re safe,” I tell her. “With me, you’re always safe.”
Her lip trembles as she shakes her head. “You can’t say that. You don't know where I come from.”
“That’s the thing, princess. I don’t care. I don’t care if your dad is the pope or a cartel leader,” I keep my voice firm, trying to get her to understand each of my words. “You’re not going to scare me away.”
Her eyes widen with a mixture of horror and disbelief, and I smile at her. I lean in, putting my forehead on hers.
“You could be dangerous as hell, and I’d still choose you.”
Her breath hitches. “You shouldn’t.”
“Too late.”
Her fingers clutch onto my hoodie like a lifeline, “Everyone I get close to gets hurt.”
“Then stay close,” I say, brushing my thumb across her cheek. “I can take a hit.”
She lets out a broken laugh, “You really shouldn’t want me.”
“Too bad,” I say simply. “I’m not going anywhere.”
She leans in close and rests her head on my chest, and for the first time all night, her breath starts to steady.
I rub my hand over her head, and she melts into me like she’s been waiting a month for this… and I secretly hope she has been because I have.
I kiss her hair and let her floral, earthy smell invade my senses. “I lost you once, princess. I’m not losing you again.”
Her hands fist my shirt, as she looks up at me with tears still in her eyes.
“I don’t want to lose you either,” she whispers.
I smile into her hair. “You won’t.”
Because now that she’s back in my arms? Nothing on this fucking earth is taking her away from me again.
Chapter 8
