“Yeah, let’s go to bed. I’ll read. You sleep.”
She gives me a soft kiss with that sweet mouth, which is reward enough for anything.
As I turn my head, my arm flexes so I can feel her grip on me tighten.
Yeah, hold on tight. And I’ll do the same.
37
ARYA
Erik falls asleep before me, but even after the brutal disturbing night, having his strong body curled around mine is reassuring, and I crash hard.
Once I’m awake, all I can think about is the emotional exchange we had in the front room. I tore my own heart in two in the kitchen when I tried to end things. I never expected him to put it back together by admitting he didn’t think he could let me go because he’s in love with me. It’s still hard to believe he chose me over hunting Casanova. I didn’t think he would.
My fingertip traces the curve of his jaw, savoring the feel of his stubble. Today is so surreal. To fall so hard and so fast… unbelievable. And yet, at the same time, it almost feels inevitable. For two years, I was obsessed with what happened between us—and what didn’t. It was hard to be near him. It was hard to be ignored by him. My obsession with Erik was at the heart of everything.
And now I get to leave the horrors of GU behind to start a new life with him. My throat burns, and I sink my teeth into my bottom lip.
Come on. Don’t you dare cry and wake him up. He’s exhausted. Let him rest.
I swallow and pull myself together. We’ll have lots of time. No need to go crazy all at once.
I give his jaw a light kiss, and then I mouth the words, “I love you.” It’s the first time I’ve ever said them voluntarily. And the first time I’ve ever meant them. My insides buzz like Seltzer.
Forcing myself not to linger, I rise and quietly dress. Once I leave the room, I tumble back to earth and feel more like my normal self.
Following the sounds of soft conversation, I find the formal dining room. Declan sits at the head of the table with a cup of coffee. Avery stands at a long buffet chest that’s set for breakfast.
As I spread jam on a slice of toast, I hear male voices in the hall. I’m surprised to spot Erik standing near the doorway. The borrowed black knit shirt is stretched tight across his chest, which is a good look for him. If all his shirts were too small for his muscles, it would suit me fine.
“No, I didn’t get a summons,” Shane says, stepping into the dining room. “Maybe you should talk to my dad, the lawyer, before you go.”
“Should be all right,” the Viking says as he enters, too.
I set my dish on the table and then turn toward them. “What’s going on?”
Shane makes himself busy at the coffee pot as Erik says, “Message from the dean that he wants to see me this morning.”
My hand flutters to rest on the top of a chair. “About last night?”
“Didn’t say.” Erik pours coffee.
Shane’s phone buzzes in his pocket, and he removes it. Glancing at the screen, he cocks his head. “Spoke too soon.”
Erik pulls out the chair next to mine and sits.
“Shane, does your text say whether it was about last night?” I ask.
“No.” Buttering a piece of toast, he adds, “Safe to assume though.”
Pulling my phone from the side pocket of my stretch pants, I check my messages and my university email. “No one from the administration sent anything to me.” I send a quick text to Tavi, who’s up but said she wasn’t ready to get out of bed yet.
Arya: hey did u get txt from dean? to come for meeting?
Tavi: no
Arya: Erik and Shane got one. Lemme know if u do
