“So, if it was best for me to leave… You would let me go?”
“If you wanted to go. I just… I wanted you to know the truth before. I wanted you to know the truth, and I couldn’t cope thinking you might hate me and think I could ever—”
“I know,” she said, taking my face in her hands. “I know, Zoltán.”
“How?” I croaked. I’d waited months. I’d thought the worst.
“I looked at the original reports in Hungarian. Some things still didn’t align. I’ve sent my findings to Livie andDr. Sannier. I should have done it sooner.”
She looked up at the ceiling, trying to stop her tears.
“Do you hate me?” Her question was high, a single tear falling from her eye. “I should have stayed by you. I should have heard you. I should have believed you. You lost everything and my loyalty—”
“I don’t think I’ve lost everything. Any form of relationship with you is something I would cherish, Fia.” I rested my forehead against hers. “I could never hate you.”
“I missed you so badly. So badly, Zoltán.”
We seemed to open our eyes at the same time, still resting against each other, and I lost myself in her dark eyes. I could kiss her; every fibre of my being wanted to. It would be the most natural thing to do.
Her breath hitched, and I felt it on my lips.
But this couldn’t be solved by kisses and sex.
I pressed my lips to her forehead.
She pulled back and wiped her tears away. “Wow. I have had a few tears today.” She brushed under my eyes at mine. “As have you.”
We laughed, voices thick with emotion.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to stay in the guest room.”
“Of course.”
I walked her upstairs and, in the landing, gave her some of my comfy clothes to wear. With a smile, she requested the jumper on my back. When I whipped it off, her eyes caught on my chest, my abs, and she exhaled deeply.“Youneed to leave before we make a mistake.”
“I hear you,” I said, but we stood there, looking at each other as she clutched my jumper to her chest.
“I love you,” she countered. “I never stopped. I never will.”
I brushed her hair back from her face. “We’ll get through this frost, Fia.”
She avoided my gaze, nodded, and followed Vincent into the guest bedroom.
35
Chapter 35
Fia
The bed was cold when I rolled over. I couldn’t remember the dream I’d faded from into consciousness, but in the land of the living, I expected to roll onto that chest I’d admired and chucked out of the room before it was too late.
Maybe I’d get a forehead kiss and a cuddle.
Maybe if I went into his bedroom, I’d get that, and not the cold duvet.
He’d called it ‘our’ bedroom last night.
My perfume was still on the side. My toothbrush was still leaning against his in the holder.
