His length pressed against her belly, but he made no move to take her. Not yet. Not until he had asked the question that had suddenly become the most important thing in the world.
He broke the kiss long enough to speak, his voice rough with emotion. “Sorcha…”
She blinked up at him, her eyes soft and searching.
He raised a hand to tuck a stray red strand behind her ear.
“What do ye truly want?” he asked somberly. “Daenae tell me what ye think I want to hear. Tell me whatyewant.”
Her breathing slowed, her eyes widening as though she had never expected that question.
“I want to stay,” she whispered shakily. “Desperately. I want to stay with ye, William. Here. Always.”
He could not deny the truth in her gaze. It terrified him more than revenge ever had, because it meant choosing. It meant risking. It meant loving, when he had sworn never to let anyone close enough to wound him again.
And yet the words slipped out of him before he could stop them.
“Ye may remain.”
Her eyes widened with shock, before her lips parted with a soundless gasp.
He continued, nonetheless, wanting her to hear it all. “I ken I was wrong to avoid ye. To push ye away. I owe ye explanations… many of them. And ye’ll have them, I swear it. But another time.”
He kissed her forehead, lingering there.
“For now,” he murmured against her skin, “I must finish what I started. I must see this through. And I will do everything in me power to keep ye safe while I do it.”
He pulled back to look into her eyes. She didn’t say anything, only offered a smile.
She was staying. And he would burn the world down before letting anyone take her from him.
The afterglow of ecstasy lingered long after. It refused to fade, and Sorcha wasn’t even complaining.
She was walking through the dimly lit corridor, her mind replaying what she had done with William the night before.
Oh, how he had claimed her in the most exquisite way imaginable. She quivered at the memory.
He had beenrelentless. Her cries had echoed through his chamber as he pounded into her so hard that the ancient oak frame creaked in protest. And his mouth—God, his wicked, talented mouth had worshipped her nipples until they were like ripe berries under his tongue.
Her thighs trembled slightly, as if his touch lingered like invisible ink.
The morning after had been tender, just like she wanted. No disappearances. No acting as though nothing had ever happened. William had pulled her close, his lips mapping every inch of her as if he couldn’t bear to let her go.
She had shivered at the unexpected tenderness from him but had been quick to return it.
Now, as she made her way through the castle, her hips swayed with an unconscious grace. She hummed a tune, unable to contain her excitement and happiness.
Somehow, the castle seemed less foreboding today.
She had good news! How could she hide it, this glow that radiated from her like sunlight piercing through stormclouds?
Her smile was so wide that her cheeks ached. But she wouldn’t complain. She couldn’t wait to share her good news.
She was staying! She didn’t have to go anywhere!
Her heart soared with excitement. She wondered who she should break the news to first.
Perhaps Avery.
