These last few hours were the longest hours of my life. Trying to wait until 10 o’clock to see Angelique nearly killed me. As it was, I left a few minutes early because I just couldn’t wait. Standing outside the door to her suite, I was as nervous as a senior with his date on prom night. I don’t know why I was feeling this way. I was a former Navy Seal for crying out loud, but here I stood with my hand raised hesitant to knock.

Giving myself a mental kick in the ass, I forced my hand to knock on the door. Waiting with breathless anticipation, I listened for the sound of her footsteps. After a moment, I could hear the slide of the safety latch and the click of the lock.

I was barely able to contain the Cheshire grin, as she opened the door. My heart stopped as I took in the site of her; bare-foot, clad in one of the hotel’s soft plus robes, hair still damp from a recent shower. Envisioning her naked beneath it, I smiled with satisfaction until I saw her face. My mouth dropped open in shock. Her green eyes normally shined, but they were masked by pools of tears threatening to spill over. But that wasn’t the worst part. Not even make-up could hide the swelling and bruising on her face.

Without hesitation, I stepped through the door and pulled her close. I nudged the door closed with my foot as I cradled her in my arms. My heart broke as she clutched my shirt and cried, “Oh, Rafe. I’m so glad you came.”

Someone had touched her. Someone had hurt my woman. I would kill them. But I needed her to tell me who first. Reigning in the angry beast that threatened to explode, I gently tipped her chin back. The pool of tears that had threatened to spill over did; cascading down her cheeks.

“Shhh…it’s okay. I’m here,” I said as I kissed the trail of tears.

“What happened? Who did this to you?”

Eyes downcast, she slipped out of my grasp and walked over to the windows. I could see her reflection, eyes blank staring out past the nightscape. I walked up behind her, careful not to startle her. Putting my hands on her shoulders, I turned her around to face me. Her eyes were downcast, and she was biting her bottom lip as it trembled nervously. I could tell she didn’t want to tell me. But I had a good idea of who it was.

“It was Alistair wasn’t it?”

She didn’t speak but gave me a tiny nod.

“Did he…do anything else?” I could bring myself to finish the question.

She shook her head no, but she wouldn’t meet my gaze. I knew she was lying to me, but she wasn’t in any condition for me to grill her about it. My fists clenched as Rage boiled inside.

I wanted to find him and punish him. There was nothing more cowardly and weak than a man preying on a woman. I would end him.

She must have read my mind because she placed her hand on my forearm. “Don’t,” she whispered. “Whatever you are thinking, he’s not worth it.”

“You are worth it to me. He put his hands on you and that is unacceptable.” Caressing her swollen cheek, I said through gritted teeth, “He marked you. I can’t forget that.”

“Please,” she said, stroking her fingers lightly on my arm. “I just want to forget it ever happened.”

Loosening the belt of her robe, she let it fall to her feet.

“Angelique, you don’t have to do this,” I stammered backing away from her. She was beautiful, and I yearned to touch her. But she had looked so fragile, so broken when she had opened the door. I didn’t want to hurt her.

It was her turn to shush me. “Shh…I want to. I need to. You make me feel alive…and safe.” Pressing her naked body to mine, she stood on tip toes to nibble at my bottom lip. Despite my best intentions, my cock came to immediate attention at her light teasing. “Make me forget.”

My body wavered, still trying to be a gentleman and do the right thing. But one word and I was completely undone.

Staring up at me with those wide, jeweled eyes, “Please,” she begged.

I wanted to take her right then and there, but I knew that’s not what she needed. She needed tenderness, someone who could cherish every delectable inch of her. I scooped her up in my arms, kissing her deeply. Carrying her into the bedroom, I laid her down in the middle of the king size bed, her dark hair fanned out behind her.

I shed my clothes quickly and joined her on the bed. Vowing to take my time and erase all the bad thoughts from her mind, I proceeded to make slow, sweet love to her well into the night. Exhausted from our lovemaking, she finally fell asleep in my arms.

I hated to leave her like this, shadows from the moonlight highlighting her feminine curves. I wanted to keep her in my arms forever, but there was something I had to take care of first. Even though she had made me promise not to hurt Alistair, I had to make sure that he could never hurt her again. Kissing her brow, careful not to stir her, I quietly left the suite.