Page 61 of Crowned In Blood
"Are you hurt?" he bit out in a low growl.
"I'm fine?—"
"Where are you hurt?" He brushed my wrist, gently tilting in every direction.
"Marco?"
But he wasn't listening. He just kept repeating, "Are you hurt? Where are you hurt?" like a broken record. He continued to check my body, his large, warm hands so gentle as they followed up my arm, then he switched to my other hand and did the same. Nothing I said got through to him, and I didn't understand why.
"Marco," I tried again, "I'm fine. I'm not hurt. No one hurt me. See?—"
"Where are you hurt?"
I sighed and gently put my hand on his chest, trying once more. "Marco?"
His hands stilled, but he refused to meet my gaze. He stood hunched over, his head bowed.
I touched his cheek, gently stroking his skin, and tried to make him face me. He shuddered so hard I felt it through my palm. "Marco, I'm right here. I'm okay."
When his eyes met mine, he stared at me like I was an alien, or a ghost.
"Talk to me," I whispered as softly as I could. "Tell me what's going on."
"This is the second time, Catalina." He was breathless, like he was barely holding himself together. "This is the second time that you've had to fight on your own, and I couldn't help you."
“That’s always going to happen, Marco. It can't be any other way. I've accepted that, and I can take care of whatever I have to," I said softly.
"I don't want you to! I want to take care of you!"
I pulled back as much as I could, but he refused to let my shoulders go.
He trembled around me, crowding me against the door. "I've never felt so weak, Catalina. I've never felt like less of a man than I do right now because you wouldn't let me help you. That because of our roles, I truly couldn't. And you didn't need me." His body shook harder. "The only thing I could do was make sure his men wouldn't try to shoot you, and you even had that covered."
I cupped his cheek with my other hand. "Marco, I wouldn't want you to help me, not because I don't trust you. I do." It was the first time I'd said those words out loud, and as scary as it was to admit, it was the truth. "I wouldn't want you to help me because it would endanger you and your familia. If some asshole wants to march in here and act like he owns the place, I can put him down, but I can't drag you into that fight. You don't deserve that and neither does your familia."
"I don't care."
"Marco—"
"I don't care, Catalina! I don't care what hell I have to walk through for you. I'll gladly take it, anything, everything. I'd rake myself over hot coals if it would make your life easier. If I had no feet, I would crawl to you. If my hands were tied, I'd break or chew them off for you. There is nothing I wouldn't do foryou." He grabbed my arms, his gaze piercing. "If I had to give up everything I own, every possession, every bit of the power and money I've earned, I would for you, without a second thought."
I didn't know what to say or do. It felt like my heart was being shattered and rebuilt by his hands. All because I believed him.
It was in his eyes. He wasterrifiedfor me, something no one had ever been.
He'd been the same when Simon sent his men after me. And maybe I was a fool, maybe I was wrong or stupid and he was just too good at lying. But when he pulled me into his arms, I didn't pull away.
He asked for nothing, said nothing. Just held me.
At first, I didn't know what to do with my hands, but he squeezed me tighter until it felt too odd to leave them at my side.
Touching anyone was new for me, especially a man, but touching Marco was a strangely beautiful feeling. Something where once I let myself do so—even if it was a small pat on the arm, or an accidental brush of our fingers—I craved more.
Gone was the strong, confident man I knew. In his place was someone who cared about my safety,mylife. How could I resist him when he was like this?
I wrapped my arms around him, holding him just as tight. Instantly, the tremors in his body stopped, as if my touch was all he needed.
Gently, tentatively, I followed his lead. When he stroked my back, I stroked his. When he squeezed me, I squeezed him. I absorbed his warmth, let it soak into me, and buried my head in his neck where his scent was the strongest.
