His lips were so close but so far away. All she wanted was for him to devour her, to make everything disappear. But he didn’t move, just watched expressions play over her face, like he was trying to absorb every inch of her.
“Ask,” he said simply. Heat crept into her face. “I will not take from you. Not ever.”
Be brave.
The words wouldn’t come so instead, she twisted and crawled into his lap, his hands wrapping around her waist. She straddled his abs, which clenched deliciously beneath her. Bracing herself against his chest, she leaned forward and kissed the space between his two hearts and whispered into his skin. “I’m sorry.”
Dahlia leaned back and swallowed hard. “I know it’s not enough to make up for what I’ve done, but I hold so much regret in my heart for my actions.”Please forgive me.
His left hand released her waist and slid into her hair, cradling the back of her skull. “I know.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead and then tipped her head back. “What do you want?”
Forgiveness.
Instead, she said, “A kiss.”
He slowly closed the distance between them and glided his lips across her own. It was fleeting and infinitely gentle.
It felt like forgiveness.
She tried to press harder, but he wouldn’t let her. Instead, he dropped kisses to her cheekbones, the slope of her nose, the stubborn point of her chin, and the corners of her eyes.
“Stop,” she rasped. It was too much. She didn’t deserve gentleness.
“No, you don’t get to leave me when things get uncomfortable.”
Her brows furrowed. “I’m right here.”
Neve shook his head. “I can feel you withdrawing. Hoisting your walls higher.”
“I have to.” If she didn’t, he would destroy her.
“No, you don’t. You just haven’t realized that yet.” He dropped one last sweet kiss on her lips. “Stop hiding from me and be brave. You never shied from me in the past.”
“You never had reason to kill me either.”
He blinked slowly, his jaw flexing. “You really think I would do that?” No, but it was what she deserved. “Answer me.”
“No.”
“Then why say such a thing?”
“Because I deserve it,” she whispered.
“No,jaivelle, you do not.” He glanced away, swallowing hard. “For the longest time, I wanted to hurt you for what you had done. I knew you had not chosen the marriage, but I thought you’d grown to care for me as I’d grown to care for you.” He half chuckled. “It wasn’t about the act. Assassins try to kill me on a weekly basis. It was the fact that youleft.”
Dahlia bit her bottom lip to keep from crying. His words were like a physical blow. “I’m sorry.”
“I know. I can smell it on you. And I also know that you are not a naturally violent person. You only strike when you or someone you love is in danger.” His gaze strayed to Cosmos and back to Lia. “They tied your hands by using your brother.” A statement. Not a question. “Tell me the truth.”
The time for lies was over. What did she have to lose? He already figured out part of the truth. “We’ve never been safe. Allium and Randa are negligent, selfish reprobates. Allium delights in hurting Randa’s bastard born children. Randa doesn’t care for them.” Adder was proof of that. She battled back a shiver at memory of the Giver. “As I said before, Cosmos and I didn’t have capable mothers, so I stepped in. He became my whole family. The monarchs knew of my attachment and used it. They beat him, imprisoned him, and planned on sending him to the Asterium fields.”
Neve sucked in a sharp breath.
“I was given a choice. Comply or watch one of the only people I’ve ever loved die. I couldn’t do it.” She shook her head as tears tracked down her cheeks. “I managed to get him out and planned to run, but the Loriian delegation showed up early.” Lia shrugged. “As luck would have it, that is when we first met.”
Neve’s lips parted. “That is why you were dressed as a maid.”
“It’s easier to wander the palace as a servant.”
