Devil's Plaything (Playthings, #1) (13 page)

“That’s not true—”

“It is. And I chose, Julie. I chose who I wanted to be.”

Unbidden, tears sprang to her eyes. “But you stayed away... I thought you...”

“I had to make sure you were safe.”

“Are you? Am I?”

“Yes, at least for the moment. And I promise this,” his voice hardened, the dark, dangerous man she’d first met returning, “I will protect you, Julie. No matter what I have to do, who I have to become, no one will ever harm you again.”

His sincerity was unquestionable.

“And what about... us?”

The clouds in his eyes disappeared, and hope, desire, and love shined through.

“There’s an ‘us’?”

“Always. Because I love you.”

The brightest smile she’d ever seen covered his face.

“I love you so much, Julie,” he said, “I want you—no, need you with me.”

“Okay,” she said simply.

"You didn’t ask where we’ll go, what we’ll do...”

“It doesn’t matter as long as I’m with you.”

He smiled brighter then and captured her lips in a kiss.