“I don’t care how I get you to stay. Just that you do. You’re the only good thing I have in my life. The only good thing. I’m not letting you leave because of bullshit. You have to know that about me, baby. I don’t deal well with bullshit. We’re gonna fight. That’s what happens to couples occasionally. We’re both leopard. That means we’re passionate and have tempers. You’re going to have to be able to deal.”

She frowned at him. “You’re acting like what you said wasn’t huge, Elijah. I have every right to be upset.”

“I’m not saying you don’t think it was huge. I’m saying learn to deal. You leave me, I’m coming after you.”

“Elijah,” she warned.

“No, baby. This is me. Telling you. Getting through to you what kind of man your man is. If I didn’t know how you feel about me, it might be different, but you want me the same way I want you. I wouldn’t be able to rip your heart out if you didn’t. So I’m saying, as long as you feel that, you’re staying and we’re working it out.”

She didn’t want to talk about it or think about it or relive it. Her gaze slid away from his.

He caught her chin. “No, mi vida. We deal with this now. Tell me what the hell happened from the time I took you to the bedroom to when I walked out of my office and saw you look like someone had ripped your heart out.”

She jerked her chin out of his hand, wishing she could find anger again. She didn’t know what she felt, but it wasn’t anger. “You said it was a sacrifice to be with me,” she whispered. She couldn’t keep the hurt and shame from her voice.

He scowled. Fury gathered in his eyes. “The hell I did.”

“I heard you. Drake said everyone had to make sacrifices, and you said it wasn’t him making it. That was after you said I was in your bed.” Just repeating it made her heart ache and her stomach rebel.

Siena didn’t take her eyes from his. She wanted to see what kind of reaction he had, and there was no mistaking the dawning of realization as well as genuine relief. He shook his head. “Baby.” He whispered it softly and then leaned in to bury his face between her shoulder and neck.

She felt the rasp of the shadow along his jaw. She felt his lips moving against her neck. She felt something damp against her skin. Her hands slid into his hair, fingers sifting through the dark, thick waves as he held her tight to him.

“I guess I took something out of context?” She felt still inside, but hope had blossomed, and there was no turning it back.