Page 43 of Warlord’s Empire

When he finally lifted his head, he said, “You love me.” His lips were a hairsbreadth from hers, his voice a deep rumble, barely audible, but she caught the wonder, the pleasure in his tone.

“Yes,” she said breathlessly.

“I’ve waited so long.” It came out as a groan and his grip on her waist grew fiercer as he lifted her off her feet, kissing her again.

When he set her back down, her head was spinning and her heart was beating so frantically, she thought it would burst from her chest. She stumbled back a step when it looked like he would close the distance between them again.

“Mad at you,” she gasped, pressing a hand over her fluttering heart.

He stopped, his face crumpling with anguish, his shoulders slumping. “I was a beast last night. I’m sorry, Saskia. It won’t happen again.”

Her lips twitched in amusement. It sounded like he was talking about sex, which would have been a lot better than what actually happened. “I don’t mean last night. I’m talking about suffocating me with surveillance and security. You have cameras in my bedroom! Sensors on my doors and windows!”

His face resumed its usual unreadable expression. “My security measures are non-negotiable.”

“I know,” she grumbled, as he led her to the open-air cafe. “That’s why I’m mad at you.”

“How do I make it acceptable for you?” He pulled a chair out at one of the tables for her to sit on.

She studied him as he sat opposite her. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Shola take a position nearby, her gaze constantly sweeping the area.

“Is it Shola?” he persisted. “Do you want me to replace her? Is she upsetting you?”

“No, of course not. I want…” She wanted her freedom. She wanted a life where she could be her own person without restrictions. But she also wanted a life where she could love Radik and he could love her back. And her two wants were at odds with each other. She was in almost the same boat as the one she’d been in at home in Prague. Only this time, she was sacrificing her freedom for love instead of obligation.

She had to swallow tears before she could say, “Never mind.” She tried to smile. “I’m over my mad. I want to talk about you.”

“Me?” His eyebrows lifted. “Ask me anything.” He spread his arms wide in invitation.

“Tell me about last night. Tell me why you thought we were being attacked?”

Chapter Twenty

This was something Radik didn’t talk about. Didn’t address. He thought if he ignored it long enough, it would pass, but it had only gotten worse. His hypervigilance over Saskia was making it worse. He knew he needed to do something about it, but there were few options available to a man like him. A man in charge of an empire where strength was essential to maintaining control.

She was looking at him with bright, curious eyes, but there was no censure in her expression. No blame or disgust at having seen him at his weakest. She was beautiful. A brown-haired angel, hair up in a messy bun on top of her head, a few tendrils framing her heart-shaped face.

“PTSD,” he muttered.

She nodded, her expression growing compassionate.

He needed to crush that look. It wasn’t deserved; it wasn’t for him. He was a monster and he needed her to understand.

“I’ve killed people,” he started.

“I know,” she said quickly, waving her hand as if it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter to him, but he knew it did to her, and he wasn’t going to let her pretend otherwise.

He enveloped her hand with his. “There can be only truth between us, Saskia. Even if you hate me after hearing some of it. Not all, as there are secrets that will die with me, but I will tell you some of it so you can understand me better.” He forced himself to hold her gaze. “Even if you hate me, it’s best if the air between us is cleared of any mysteries.”

She tilted her head and stared at him with that piercingly curious gaze of hers. “What if I do hate you after? Will you let me go?”

He hadn’t expected the question and had to battle with himself for a moment before answering. “Yes, I will.”

Her lips parted and her eyebrows arched. “Seriously?”

Despite his abhorrence of the topic under discussion, his lips twitched with amusement. “You are an honest person. I believe you will deal with me truthfully.”

“I feel the same,” she said in a low voice.