CHAPTER SEVENTY ONE – I DON’T NEED YOUR PROTECTION

"Perhaps there was a time when I deluded myself into believing I could keep one foot in that world while remaining untainted, that I could keep you from the harsh realities." Jasmine opened her mouth, a blistering retort burning on her tongue, but Alexander pressed on, his words gathering in urgency. "But you..." He closed the distance between them in two long strides, calloused fingers cradling her face with an achingly gentle reverence. "You are the first thing in my life that has felt genuine, sacred in decades." Jasmine's breath caught in her throat at the naked emotion blazing in his eyes, the anguish and adoration warring in his expression. For a fleeting moment, she could almost convince herself to become lost in the familiar swirl of ardor and chemistry arcing between them. Almost. Pulling back, putting distance between them once more, she fought to maintain her composure as the cold clarity of his betrayal washed over her anew. "And yet when it came down to choosing - to