“What of it?”
“Have you ever forced it? Felt like you deserved it?”
“Absolutely not.” His nostrils flared. “Only a piece of shit would think they’reowedsexual favors. I’d never force myself on anyone.”
Her palms landed on his forearm, bringing his hand into her lap where she clutched him.
She trusts me. The thought was awe-inspiring, and his heart skittered to a brief halt before kicking off its race again.
“I have a lot of fear around it all, things to work through.” She chewed her lip before eyeing Isahn through shuttered lashes. “You’ve helped a lot. I never thought I’d feel comfortable enough with a man to go as far as we have. I mean, I’ve done some things, but not everything.”
Shereallytrusts me.Isahn was stunned. Given how free and open George’s friends seemed regarding their sexuality, he’d assumed she was like the rest of them. A wave of nausea ambushed him as he considered the way he’d teased Georgie when she was questioning him, the comments he made on the road. “You’ve never been with anyone?”
She cleared her throat, offering, “No intercourse.”
“I had no idea,” he admitted. “I owe you a massive apology. I didn’t know the extent of things here when I said you had a one-track mind. I’m ashamed.”
She hummed.
“I’m so sorry for that, and for the way I talked to you when you were questioning me.”
“Don’t apologize for that, Isahn. You had no idea. When I was questioning you, you behaved well within the bounds of what I’d expect from a prisoner.”
“Either way, I’msorry—for everything you’ve handled in your life. You only deserve goodness.” He opened his arms for George, who climbed onto her knees before falling forward into his embrace.
When he held her tightly to his chest, she burst into tears.
Rubbing slow circles over her back, he wished for all the world he could change her life. At least his parents loved each other, loved him and his sister. Sure, they’d been taken far too early, but his and Solaelia’s pain paled in comparison to the trauma George faced daily with grace. For fuck’s sake, she had to dine beside and pander to the sorry excuse for a man who’d taken her mother’s life.
George was the strongest, bravest, most assertive woman he’d ever had the pleasure of meeting. Somehow, through all of her struggles, she’d held onto her soft and generous nature. Had he lived through even a fraction of her life, his own heart would have withered like a rotten peach long ago. But he hadn’t, and it hadn’t. And currently, one woman in all of Duhra lay claim to his soul.
“George,” Isahn gasped, rocked to his core.
“What?” Drawing back, she eyed him, concerned.
He was reeling. Shock didn’t even begin to capture the caterwauling emotions tumbling through him. Nervousness, fear, frustration, panic, joy, happiness, hope. He had to let it out:
“I love you.”
George’s eyes grew round as her lips shifted from sad to surprised.
“I don’t expect you to say it back. I just realized it. But I want you to know. Your life has been exceptionally difficult. You’ve been let down time and again by the people around you. And I can’t guarantee I won’t do the same thing—but I’m going to try my damnedest not to.” His nose stung, and pressure built near his eyes. “Godsdamn it, Georgie, I love you so much. Even if you never feel it back, even if there is no future for us... I need you to know.”
She blinked through glossy eyes.
Grazing a thumb along her jawline, he said, “George, you crept into my heart with all the subtlety of a bolt of lightning. I love you. I love you. I love you.”
Her lilting laughter split the silence, and she beamed, her clouded gaze brightening as a stray tear dripped down her cheek. “Lightning? I’ve been called stormy before, volatile even, but I’m not sure I’ve ever been equated to that. Is it because I’m shocking?”
“Shocking, scorching, electrifying, and a million other life-changing things.”
“Oh, Isahn.” She sighed, a small smile playing around her lips. “Kiss me?”
It wasn’t “I love you, too,” but he’d take it.
twenty
George has a plan.
