I knew you were mine and I had to be bound to you from the moment we shared sex. I would have found my house helpers homes before we arrived on Zorn if I hadn't been harmed. I never would have let them touch me after you. I know you are from a race that feels pain and rage at the sight of it, like I feel at the thought of a male touching you. I do understand. Look at me."

"No."

He took deep breaths. "I would want to kill another male who I had to watch touch you. I want to kill at the thought of another man in bed with you, inside you." He growled. "I feel pure rage at the thought of the males who touched you before me. I understand, Casey."

"You don't." She turned her head, opening her eyes. She had to blink back tears that swam in her eyes so she could see him. "I don't feel rage. I feel raw pain. Rage is easier to take than my heart feeling like it was torn from my chest. I can't forgive you, Argernon. All I can see is those women touching you and knowing Bara fucked you today. Please, if you care for me at all, get away from me."

Chapter Twelve

Argernon looked frustrated as he stared at Casey. "I swear to you that she did not mount me."

"She touched you. She got you off somehow, right?"

His eyes darkened. "I was in a dream state and wasn't aware of what was real and what was not. I thought it was you, Casey. I thought it was your hair I had in my hand. I thought it was your breath touching me. I thought it was your tongue bringing me to release."

She stared into his eyes. She hated him and she loved him. His lifestyle caused her pain.

Part of her realized though that she could have prevented Bara from touching him to wake him up. Ariel had sent Ahhu to stop Bara from touching Argernon. Casey had told Ariel to let Bara do it. She hadn't meant it at the time, but it was done. She held responsibility for that, but the rest of it was all on Argernon. It didn't ease the pain of it though.

"I can't get past this, Argernon. I hurt too much. I feel betrayed by you and I'll never trust you again. I have pride. Do you understand? You kept important things from me that let me walk into it blind and it hurt. I don't think much of a man who makes a commitment to three women and then just dumps them when someone else comes along that he likes better."

"I don't like you better."

She almost winced. She looked away from him. He'd set her straight. It hurt.

"I love you."

Jerking her head back to him, she let surprise hit her. Sincerity burned from the depths of his eyes. He nodded at her.

"I love you, Casey. You are everything to me. I will not give you up and I will not lose you. You speak of pride, but let me tell you of my pride, lost for you. I never thought I'd hand women over to someone else to protect. I offered them a home and I thought I would never send them away. I did that because I would rather go back on my word to keep them than to lose you.

I would rather hurt the feelings of three women I was honored to protect because I would do anything to not hurt you even a little. You do not want me, and yet even knowing this, I am ready to plead with you to forgive me and not leave me."

Casey was stunned. She couldn't speak. Argernon didn't have that problem.

His mouth hardened into a tight line for a moment. "I plead for nothing." His voice deepened. "I beg for nothing." He paused, searching her eyes. "You are my heart. I beg you to forgive me, beautiful. You come before everything to me. You even come before my own pride.

I'm a Zorn warrior. I have fought many battles in war. I carry scars from lost lives I took in battle. I hunt and I do it well. I have never been captured and I have never been brought to my knees." He reached out to caress her cheek. "Then I look into your eyes and remember your laugh. I am there, beautiful. You have caught me and I am on my knees to you."

Her heart melted. How could it not? The things he was saying to her were too much. She saw honesty burning in his intense stare. His tone sent shivers down her spine. She gazed into his eyes. The urge to touch him was so strong that she even tried to until her arms jerked when she moved. They stayed above her head where they were chained.

"I don't know how to get past the pain," she admitted softly. "I do love you too. I just..."

she blinked back tears. "I don't know how to not feel like this."

He blinked. "Don't think. Feel."

"That's the damn problem. I feel hurt." Her voice broke.

"Casey," he growled, moving closer. "Let me touch you. Let me make you forget everything but us together. There's no pain in my arms or in my touch." He was so close to her mouth that she inhaled his breath. Their gazes were locked together. "Let me love you."

Shaking her head, she turned her face away. "No." She rolled on her back to put a little distance on the bed between them.

Argernon sighed. "I can make you want me."

"Don't, Argernon."

"I want you and I need you. I hurt for you and with you. The thought of losing you is one I will not accept." He sat up to straddle her thighs.

Casey stared up at the naked man who was reaching for her shirt. She struggled but he had her pinned from the waist down. The restraints held her arms locked above her head.

"Damn it, Argernon. Don't do this. I won't forgive you."

"You said you can't forgive me as it is. Will this be any more unforgivable than the rest of what I have done?"

"There will be less to forgive if you don't do this on top of it all."

He had the nerve to chuckle. His grin was wide as he tore open her shirt. His gaze moved down her body. The smile died. "You are so sexy. Your skin is so pale. Your breasts are perfect and I love the taste of them." He dipped his head.