She reached for my arm, her hand affectionally caressing me.
“You chose me…” she whispered, but the emotions in her eyes seemed too conflicted to decipher.
“I did. André and Dante saw her visions because your mom offered them as proof that they belonged in your life. They were meant for you and you for them. It was pre-destined. I didn’t need proof. I needed you.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew deep inside me, in the darkest corners of my being, that only you could give me what I would never have if my life remained the same.”
Her white and red strands swayed with the shake of her head. She seemed so confused.
“Your life is perfect, Hannes. You grew up with a beautiful family that loves you and respects you, in a gorgeous castle, withpowers no other being in this world could ever dream to have. You have an entire race who bows at your feet and will rejoice the day you become king to finally rule them. What could I possibly give you that you don’t already have?”
Taking the chance that she wouldn’t reject me after knowing the truth, I cradled her face in my hands, bringing our faces close.
“Pain,” I breathed. “Agony. Fear. Need. Helplessness, and love so fucking strong that I would give up everything you just mentioned, all that I was raised to honor and protect, just so I could be with you.”
She became silent as powerful emotions inundated her gaze, emotions I couldn’t understand.
The fear I’d just mentioned gripped every inch of me.
“I know how it sounds, but before I met you, Natasha, I’d never felt pain. I’d never been in agony, yet it tore through every part of me when your fire threatened to consume me, reminding me that I was alive. Neither had I experienced the fear of losing someone I couldn’t live without. Helplessness captured me when you were taken right from under our noses, and I couldn’t get to you fast enough to stop them from hurting you…”
Unexpected tears gathered in her eyes, making her gaze glisten in the moonlight that seeped through the window.
“You have shown me I am vulnerable under all this power because losing you that night would have destroyed me far worse than your fire ever could. You taught me that when it comes to you, I’m not invincible after all. Not in any way that matters, not even my beast.”
Pressing our foreheads together, I took in her scent, in case this was the last time. A couple of her tears fell, sliding over my thumbs on her cheeks.
“Please, don’t let me go. I know I wasn’t chosen. I know I bargained my way into your life, but please have me anyway,Natasha. You are the only one who could ever get to me. Affect me. Hurt me. But I’m trusting you not to do it because I was told that’s what love?—”
Her mouth crashed against mine in a desperate kiss that said she forgave me, and she still needed me as much as I needed her.
Sweet life returned to me as Natalia pulled me to her, gripping my arms tightly, not wanting to let me go. She surrendered to every ounce of emotion my confession invoked inside of her.
I instantly took over the kiss, relief coursing through me when I lay her down on the mattress, resting over her. She gave in to me, her legs wrapping around my hips, and allowing our bodies to fall into place together perfectly, lips dancing passionately, tongues caressing each other with each need-filled kiss.
The way she kissed me appeased almost every doubt I’d harbored about belonging in her life. Even if she didn’t recognize it yet, it wasn’t just Starlight pulling her to me, she wanted me too… I just needed her to accept that to herself and me.
Natalia’s hands roamed their way down my chest and arms over and over, claiming me with her fiery touch. All I could do was kiss her, breathe the whimpers from her mouth with the intimate way our bodies pressed together, and how hard I was for her—only a layer of thin fabric separating us.
We couldn’t seem to stop but I knew tonight couldn’t go past a make-out session because if I had her fully naked in my arms once more, I wouldn’t be able to hold myself back.
I would make her mine.
Our lips only left each other long enough for us to gasp much-needed air, resuming their sensual dance until we slowly calmed. When I glanced at her from under hooded eyes her lips were beautifully red and swollen from my kiss, and she’d never looked that stunning.
Her core ground against my hard-on once more, and my eyes briefly closed, allowing the pleasure the feel of us like this brought to reach every part of me. She did that every few minutes, provoking me, trying to tempt me into giving in, but Natalia knew this was as far as we would go tonight.
“I can’t claim you until you are whole,Mein herz. We both deserved that.”
Her lips curved into a sensual smirk after I finally called hermy heart, as the guys did.
“You are such a party pooper.” She fixed herself under me, pressing us even closer and stroking my hard-on with the movement.
“You are playing with fire… Natalia.”
Her eyebrow arched at me, but the smile on her lips turned naughty. “It is my thing, after all.” Caressing my neck, she guided her touch down my chest, pulling at my waistband. “Just let me feel you skin-to-skin again. I promise I won’t do anything.”
