I knew that once she was at Crowning's, my job to protect her would be made ten times harder. As soon as I found out this was her plan, I made my move.
I took her. I brought her here, where it’s safe. But I never really thought about what it would be like… being near her. Never let myself even dream.
I let out a shuddering breath. I've faced terrifying men and impossible situations and won, and the little sweet lass has me damn near tremblin'. Feel a bit like the proverbial elephant terrified of a wee mouse.
I'll take her blindfold off first so she can look at me, but I'll have to keep her wrists secured. She's like a scared little kitten and might hurt herself.
I lean closer. In my most soothing voice, I tell her, “Shh, it's okay now. I promise. You're safe. I know you're probably scared, and I'm sorry for that. But eventually, you'll understand that I had to do this.”
I reach for the back of her head and untie the blindfold. It falls to the couch, and she blinks up at me, her gorgeous eyes bleary and unfocused.
And Christ, I'm hard. I'm fucking hard just from having her look at me, just from seeing those blue eyes finally focused on my face instead of through a telephoto lens. Six fuckin' years of celibacy.
But that’s not why she’s here.
“Easy, lass,” I say, reaching for her, but she scrambles away from me with wide, terrified eyes.
I know what she sees when she looks at me—her captor with a shaved head, a scar across a brow, with ink on my arms and neck and any visible skin.
I would never hurt her, but she doesn't know that, does she?
“Please.” Her voice cracks, and something in my chest cracks with it. “Please just let me go. Don't hurt me. I won't tell anyone. I promise I won't.”
“Shh.” I kneel beside her and run my thumb under her eye, wiping away a tear. “Shh,” I say again, keeping my voice low and controlled, everything I'm not feeling inside.
She shakes her head and pulls away from me. I reach a hand out to steady her when she pushes to her feet, but she flinches. So I let her. I'll give her as much space as I can, as long as she doesn't hurt herself.
“Now, lass, you'll be a bit wobbly on your feet. You need to sit down and listen to me. Alright?” But I don't pursue her. Not yet. There's no need to push her.
Bianca shakes her head and backs toward the door, her beautiful eyes wide and wet, her fair skin even paler in the dim light.
Every muscle in my body screams to close the distance. To cage her against that door with my body. To show her she can't run from me.
But I don't. I force myself to stay still, my hands clenched at my sides, knuckles white. The same hands that have broken bones and ended lives, shaking because I won't let myself touch her. Not yet. Not until she understands.
She's still wearing that gorgeous dress, bridal white and innocent, with an old-fashioned touch of lace at her neckline. I watched her put it on this morning through her bedroom window. I watched her smile at herself in the mirror, like she had something to look forward to.
She has no idea what I saved her from tonight, and it will probably take a while before she learns the truth.
“Bianca.” My voice is quiet but firm. This doesn't come naturally to me. Why does it take so much goddamn effort to be gentle?
Her hand reaches for the doorknob.
“Stop.” It comes out harsher than I intended. Can't fucking help it. Even though I want to be gentle with her, every instinct in me is to grab her. To hold her. To shake her and make her understand that I did this for her own damn good.
“Let me go!”
“Now, lass, I can't do that. If you listen, I can?—”
“You're out of your mind. You took me. You drugged me and took me!” Her voice rises, panic threading through each word. “What are you going to do with me?” She chokes on the words. “Please don't hurt me.” Her pleading breaks my heart into little bits.
She thinks I've brought her here to assault her. Of course she does. Why wouldn't she? I'm twice her size and thirteen years older.
“I won't hurt you.” I try again. “Sit.”
“Sit? You kidnapped me. Do you understand that? You'll go to jail for this! You took me.”
I walk slowly closer, keeping my voice low and calm. “I know what I did.”
