Like the perfect acquisition, except I'm not an acquisition anymore.
I'm the woman Vaughn Sutherland is choosing over everything else.
I walk out of the bathroom. Watch his face as he sees me.
His expression makes my breath catch.
"Eden," he breathes.
"Is it okay?"
"You're perfect. Absolutely perfect. They're going to see you walk in wearing that and know exactly what I'm giving up. Know exactly how much you're worth."
"I don't want them to see me as an acquisition."
"They won't. They'll see you as the woman who was worth more than their entire world. The woman who made me realize power means nothing without someone to share it with."
He crosses to me, cups my face and kisses me with a tenderness that makes my chest ache.
"I love you," he says against my lips.
"I love you too."
"Are you scared? About what's coming?"
"Terrified. But also—" I stop.
"Also what?"
"Also ready. Ready to face them. Ready to burn it down. Ready to start something new with you."
He kisses me again, deeper this time, his hands sliding into my hair, and I realize something.
We've done everything else. Commands and training and oral sex and his fingers inside me.
But we haven't donethis.
Haven't made love.
Haven't had actual penetrative sex.
Because that was supposed to be saved.
For after the showcase.
After I'd proven myself, after he'd joined the inner circle.
But the showcase isn't happening. Not the way it was supposed to.
So maybe?—
"Vaughn," I whisper against his mouth.
"Yes?"
"I want you. Actually want you. Not because I'm trained or because you're commanding me. But because I want to feel you inside me. Want to be with you completely before we face the Consortium. Want?—"
"Are you sure?" He pulls back to look at me. "You don't have to. We can wait. We can?—"
