“Babe.” He brushed back her hair with gentle fingers, inhaling her scent. He loved how she smelled, that faint scent of honeysuckle that clung to her skin and hair. “Look at me.”

He waited, allowing the silence to add to the tension in the room. He was patient. He had all the patience in the world, especially with her. Her fingers twisted together in her lap. He felt the knots in his stomach unravel. Even with the bandage on her face, she was gorgeous. His stomach went from knots to mush. His cock stirred. Yeah. She was his, all right. Her thick black lashes lifted, leaving him staring into her brilliant green eyes.

“You are,” he stated firmly, uncaring that he sounded bossy and arrogant. He used the tone that brooked no argument—from anyone. “Staying here. You aren’t in any condition to fight me on this. We can protect you here. In a hotel or somewhere else, it would be much more difficult.”

“Why? I don’t understand any of this.”

“You burned hot for me the moment I touched you. I burned just as hot for you. You’re the only woman in my life I’ve ever been out of control with.” He gave her that because he’d been brutal in taking her self-esteem. She deserved the truth, even though he was opening himself up further than he’d ever done. “You can’t give me that, baby, and then think you’re going to walk away from me.”

She blinked. Looked vulnerable. “You threw me out.”

He leaned down and brushed a kiss across her forehead and then straightened. “I fucked up, Siena. You’re going to find I do that a lot. I’m leopard. I’ve got all those traits that make me leopard . . .”

She shrank away from him, fear stark in her eyes.

“Don’t. Don’t you ever be afraid of me. Don’t look at me like that. I’m not like Paolo. I would never physically hurt you. I’d hurt myself before I’d ever harm you. I’m willing to die for you, Siena. More importantly, I’m willing to kill for you.”

“I don’t want you to do that,” she whispered.

“Paolo shouldn’t have laid his fucking hand on you.” He slid the pad of his thumb across the bruise fading at her temple and then down over her eye. “No one does that to you. No one.”

Elijah turned abruptly and stalked to the door. He couldn’t take the look in her eyes. She was afraid of him, and he couldn’t really blame her. He had to have scared her to death when he’d turned on her and put a gun to her head. What a damn fool. It was going to take time to repair that damage.