He had expected this, of course.
But knowing that she would soon be out of his life still tore him apart...and he had no one to blame for it save himself.
He had pushed her away. Had spoken to her with cold cruelty, had made her believe he couldn’t wait to be rid of her. And now she was doing exactly what he had asked.
She was leaving.
This was exactly what he deserved.
“Aurora.” His voice came out steady, though he did not know how. “Please. Sit down.”
She hesitated, then lowered herself into the chair across from his desk. The same chair she had sat in when he had broken both their hearts with his pride and his fear.
The sheikh remained standing. If he sat, his legs might give out.
“Would you like something to drink?” He was already moving toward the cabinet, reaching for the crystal decanter. “Water? Wine?”
“Water is fine.”
He poured slowly. Carefully. Taking his time with each movement, hating himself for these pointless delays.
Just get this over with,he told himself.Let her go. Be noble for her one last time.
Aurora deserved a life away from all this chaos. The scandal. The man who had failed her at every turn.
He handed her the glass and watched her drink, memorizing the curve of her throat, the way the afternoon light caught the pale strands of her hair. Storing away these last moments like a miser hoarding gold.
“Your Highness?”
Her voice, soft and uncertain, brought him back to the present.
She was holding out the empty glass.
He reached for it, careful not to touch her in any way. If he touched her now, he would not be able to let go. And she deserved better than that. She deserved the choice he had never given her.
He took his time placing the glass back on the cabinet.
Hated himself for causing more pointless delays.
Just get this over with.
He turned to face her, steeling himself for goodbye.
And stopped.
Aurora had risen from her chair. Her arms were wide open, her blue-gray eyes shining with tears, a wobbly smile trembling on her lips.
“Life is too short, Your Highness.”
He stared at her, not daring to breathe.
“I asked for Ella and Prince Khal’s assistance.” Her voice cracked, but she didn’t lower her arms. “They already have a judge waiting for us in your courtroom, and after that we can go straight to our honeymoon.” The wobbly smile widened, even as tears spilled down her cheeks. “Gordan helped me pack for both of us, and—”
She didn’t get to say anything else.
Her words were lost in his kiss as he crossed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her, holding on tight, so tight, like she was the only thing keeping him tethered to this earth.
And maybe she was.
