He only drew her closer, kissing her until they were both breathless. Until his thoughts swam with her, and only her.
Chapter 43
Amryn
Amryn’sheadspunasCarver kissed her. She hardly knew how they’d gone from such a heated argument tothis.But she held him just as fiercely as he held her. Every brush of his lips was a promise, and her heart swelled with the love she felt for him.Fromhim.
Her fears and insecurities melted under the heat of his touch. He’d never been trying to push her away. All those times he’d shielded his emotions, he’d been trying to protect her. The fear and anger he’d felt today weren’t because she was an empath. It was because he loved her, and he was desperate to keep her safe.
Amryn didn’t think she’d ever felt safer than she did right now, standing in Carver’s arms.
When their mouths broke away, it was only so they could both drag in air. He didn’t let her go, and Amryn only burrowed closer. She buried her face in the side of his neck, breathing in the spicy sandalwood scent of him as he wrapped an arm around her waist, one hand still cradling the back of her neck. He let his thumb glide over the sensitive skin behind her ear in soft, languid strokes as they both simply breathed.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered again, his warm breaths teasing her hairline.
Filled with new boldness, she pressed a soft kiss against his throat. A thrill went through her when she felt him shiver.
“I’m sorry, too,” she said softly. “I said horrible things to you. I didn’t mean them. Idotrust you.” She tilted her head back so she could meet his gaze, her heart racing as she said, “I love you, Carver.”
His breath caught. Then heat flared in his deep blue eyes. His hand flexed against her side, dark hair falling over his brow as he ducked to brush his lips against hers. Soft. Sweet. Perfect. Then he shifted, their foreheads resting together as he whispered, “I could hear you say that a thousand times and I think I’d still be as staggered as I am right now.”
She smiled, her fingers curling into his shirt. Keeping him close. “Is this even real?” she breathed.
He drew back, his eyes roaming her face. She knew her left cheek was horribly swollen, but he touched her there with infinite gentleness. Gazed at her as if she were the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen. “I’ve been asking myself the same thing from the moment I first met you.”
A flutter in her abdomen accompanied the melting of her heart.
His hand lifted as he brushed back a strand of loose hair, tucking it behind her ear. “I know nothing has gone according to plan, and that we’ve been here far longer than I promised. I’ve been distracted, trying to find Trevill’s killer and whoever is targeting the Chosen. But I’m sorry I neglected you.” His brow furrowed. “I could tell something was wrong, but I didn’t realize the strain between us was my doing.”
She immediately shook her head. “I should have told you how I was feeling.”
“Maybe we both could have done things differently.” The skin around his eyes tightened. “If you’re ever worried about something I say, or do, or feel, just ask me. I promise I’ll try to explain what I’m thinking so you don’t have to wonder. And if I’m not ready to talk about something, I’ll tell you that, too.”
Still reeling by all that had happened between them—and that breath-stealing, beautiful kiss—she whispered, “All right.”
His eyes dropped to her lips, and warmth spread through her veins. Anticipation hummed between them. She was ready to get lost in him again. To forget everything and everyone beyond these walls and—
“Ford!” she gasped.
Carver stilled. “I really don’t like hearing another man’s name on your lips right now.”
She blushed. “That’s not—I just—He wasstabbed. What if it’s worse than we thought? I need to checkon him and—”
“If the wound was more serious, we would have figured that out while we waited hours at Piera Denvoux’s shop,” Carver said, breaking smoothly into her frantic spill of words. “Besides, the physician will have already seen to him. If you healed him now, it would be extremely suspicious.”
He had a point. Still . . . “If he takes a turn for the worse, I’m going to heal him.”
Carver brushed an errant curl from her temple. “As long as I’m with you, making sure you’re safe while doing it.” His expression softened. “Thank you,” he murmured. “For healing me today. I hate that you risked so much, but I’m grateful.”
Her heart clenched. “I wasn’t going to lose you.”
He stared at her, so many emotions rolling through him. “I know I’m still adjusting to everything you can do. But I meant what I said back in Esperance—you’re incredible. I’m not afraid of you, because I know you. You’re everything good and beautiful.” He swallowed hard. “There was a time in Harvari I thought I’d never see anything good or beautiful again.”
Her heart ached. She knew that even referencing his time in Harvari cost him greatly. His vulnerability was painfully clear, but it was a unique show of trust that left her humbled.
She rested her palm against his rough jaw, her fingertips tracing against his skin. “I never thought I’d experience love. Not like this.” Her eyes flicked up to meet his. “I never dared to dream that someone as perfect as you existed.”
A muscle jumped under her hand, his eyes shadowed. “I’m not perfect.”
