The push and pull stops now.
We’re going all in.
Slowly, as if he’s nervous, he leans his head down until there’s only a breath between us. The difference in this kiss is as obvious as the others he’s given me.
This is the first time he’s kissed me with no power behind the motivation.
No Chaos or Harmony.
Just Riven.
The tender warmth spreads through my body, beckoning—demanding—my soul forward. And it obeys.
Or at least, it tries to.
The sliver living in him and the one in me strain toward one another. The craving to become whole engulfs me, but the pieces don’t force their way together.
By the time he pulls his lips from mine, we’re both out of breath and our bodies mold together for support.
“Just because I’m one of your boyfriends now doesn’t mean I’m going to stop with my jealous, inappropriate jokes and orcomments. I have a catalog of them that I haven’t used yet, and I can’t allow them to go to waste.”
A snort escapes me as I lean my cheek against his bare chest.
“I’d be worried something was wrong if you did.”
He chuckles but clears his throat as the sweet melody fades.
I attempt to pick my head up to see what made him grow serious once again, but he holds me to him by the grip he still has in my hair.
“I accept you and see you. Every part of you. I’ve seen it for a long time, but I’ve been too afraid to admit it. I’m still afraid of what I’ll see when I’m honest with you.
“And I do swear to be honest with you, but I ask that you give me the night. I…I can’t lay that all out there tonight. Too much happened that I need to come to terms with myself first.”
A long, slow breath pours from my lips and fans across his chest as I nod my agreement. This conversation was what I needed, and I know in my soul he did too. He needed to believe without a shadow of a doubt that I accepted him fully before he’d ever be completely honest with me.
There’s a lot I need to come to terms with and be honest with myself about as well.
Like Mellcom saving me.
I hate that. It makes me feel obligated to forgive him.
I’m not sure I can do that.
Yet, if he hadn’t, there’s no telling where the Goddess of Seduction would’ve locked me away.
The guys would probably still be in the Abandon searching for me.
Or worse…caught and handed over to their father.
My shiver vibrates his chest, and he finally loosens his hold on me.
“I have no clue how you can be cold right now, but let’s get to the house and change. If I can’t wallow in misery out here,I might as well go face the wrath of my brothers. Plus, I’m starving.”
“You won’t face their wrath. They’ve been worried sick about you and are happy you’re home. I’m sure Creed will gladly make some food.”
“Oh, there will definitely be wrath. Especially once I tell them how I fucked with the Binding.”
My head jerks up, and I glare at the guilty but fucking smirking look on his face.
