Page 200 of Knight’s Retribution

The worry in his eyes made her belly clench. If she could do something to take his mind off tomorrow, she wanted to do it. “So what are we doing?” she asked and leaned in, pressing a kiss to his chest.

“Dinner, dancing, then fucking,” he said and grinned again.

She loved that grin, it was wicked and sweet all at the same time. “Dancing?”

He shrugged. “Why not?”

“And where will we be doing this dancing?”

“On the roof.” He stepped back and dropped his towel to grab his jeans, and she had to stop herself from jumping him.

She crossed her arms instead. “The roof?”

“I can’t take you to Russo’s Bistro like I’d planned to, not right now with everything that’s going on, but I called and asked if they’d do takeout for a special occasion and they agreed.” He pulled his shirt over his head and yanked it down, sadly covering his perfectly sculpted and tattooed chest and ripped abs. They’d been back together only a short time, and she hadn’t spent nearly enough time kissing that chest. “James should be back from picking it up now.”

Rocco stood there in dark jeans and a fresh black T-shirt, waiting for her to respond. He looked good, really, really good. He’d done that for her, and she wanted to return the gesture. “Can I have twenty minutes?”

“Yeah, of course. Why?”

She licked her lips, suddenly feeling excited. “You’ll see. I’ll meet you up there, okay?”

He tilted his head, trying to read her, and his eyes glittered, his nostrils flaring. He could feel her excitement, her desire for him. The connection between them was growing every day. “Okay, baby. Take all the time you need.”

He planted another hot kiss on her lips, then walked out.

Kyler rushed to her wardrobe and flicked through her dresses. She knew the one she wanted. The dress she wore on their first date. It was a crossover, red and low cut and clung to her curves. She’d been self-conscious that first night. She’d never worn anything like it, but Rocco had made it clear he loved how curvy she was, and by the end of the night she’d felt sexier than she had in her whole life.

He’d all but torn it off her when they got back to her place later that night.

She quickly stripped and changed, then rushed to the bathroom and applied some makeup, something she hadn’t done in such a long time, then brushed out her naturally wavy hair. It looked full and kind of wild, and she left it like that. She’d never worn her hair this long, but it wasn’t like she’d had the chance to visit a salon. She liked it, though.

Shoes were next, and she chose the black patent leather baby doll four-inch heels she loved but had never gotten the chance to wear. They had a thin strap across the top of her foot that secured with a tiny button and were incredibly sexy. She’d planned to wear them for Rocco, but then.…

The memories tried to rush forward. No.

Not tonight.

She stood in front of the full-length mirror and took in her reflection. It was the first time in months she felt like her old self, inside and out. Well, mostly, anyway. So much had changed. She’d been through things she actively forced herself not to think about on a daily basis, and no, she’d never be the woman she was before she was taken to Hell.

That person was gone forever.

But looking at herself now, in this dress, in this place, about to go on a date with the male she loved, her mate, she decided this new normal, despite everything, was pretty freaking great.

Kyler didn’t know what would happen tomorrow when they tried to free T and Scarlet…or the day after that, but whatever happened, whatever time she had left on this earth, she needed to relish every moment.

Because for the first time in her life, she belonged.

She was where she was meant to be.

And she was wanted.

The happiness welled inside her and a tear streaked down her cheek. Drawing in a deep breath, she dashed it away and strode for the door.

* * *

Rocco turned at the sound of the rooftop door opening as Kyler walked through—

Fucking hell.