He looked away, throat bobbing as he swallowed. “I know I deserve every ounce of your anger. You offered me something precious, something I probably will never truly deserve, and I was an absolute arse when I denied you.”
“Yeah, you were.”
His eyes lifted to mine. “Do you ever think you can forgive me? Is there any chance of me finding my way back into your heart?”
I stiffened as I sat with the words, wondering what the truth really was. Could I forgive him? Yes. Had he ever really been absent from my heart? No.
“Grim, you broke something inside me.”
He hung his head before going to his knees before me. “I wish I could take it back. All of it. But Merri, I truly thought you had to be mistaken because there was no way someone like me would be gifted something so precious as a mate.”
I ran my fingers through his hair, knowing he wasn’t done.
“It’s not an excuse, merely an explanation, but you have to understand I spent my entire existence believing the world to be one thing, only for you to come along and completely upend it. It’s a lot of history to unlearn.”
“A lifetime’s worth,” I said with a nod.
“More like several hundred lifetimes.”
I released a breath and offered him a wobbly smile. “Then I suppose it’s a good thing you’re immortal and can spend the next several hundred making it up to me.”
Reaching for his hand, I tugged until he got to his feet. Then, I slowly removed his glove and brought his fingers to my cheek.
“I... I love you, Merri. I never thought myself capable of love, but you proved me wrong.”
There was no doubt in my mind he meant everything he said. Grim never intended to break my heart, not really. It was a painful accident, but it was still an accident, and I’d had my fair share of those. Everyone deserved a second chance, especially a horseman who was learning what it meant to be human. Well, human-ish.
Feelings were new to him, to all of them, really. They were going to make mistakes, and so was I, but we were a team and we would figure it out together.
Lifting onto my tiptoes, I pressed my lips to his and threaded my fingers behind his neck. Then I pulled back and stared into his mercurial eyes.
“I’ll forgive you on one condition.”
“Anything.”
“Please don’t break my heart again.”
Grim
“Fuck,wildflower. It's the last thing I’ll ever do.”
Unable to keep from touching her for longer than a moment, I dragged my fingertips over her beloved face. I’d been forced to deny myself the sensation of touch with nearly every person in my life. So here, in this room with my... mate, I needed to commit to memory the feel of her. Silken skin, the rise of her cheekbones, the slope of her upturned nose, her soft lips, the gentle curve of her jaw. Each feature created the face I loved. Each one deserved attention.
She remained still under my ministrations, her eyes fluttering closed as she leaned into my touch. Merri understood without my having to say a word how much this moment meant to me. In all honesty, it was probably the most intimate moment of my entire life.
“You are so achingly beautiful, Merri,” I murmured, replacing my fingers with my lips as I kissed a path along her jaw and down her neck.
“So are you, Grimsby. Every part of you.”
I didn’t deserve the words. I wasn’t worthy of them. Or this woman. But I vowed then and there that I would strive to be. Reaching down with one arm, I scooped her up until she was cradled bridal style in my hold. Her answering giggle lightened something inside me. Maybe I wasn’t such a miserable git after all.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked, toying with my hair as I carried her down the hall.
“My lair.”
“Oooh, your lair? And what do you intend to do with me once you have me in your clutches?”
“I was intending to ravish you, but if there’s something else you desire, all you have to do is ask.”
