What did she think was going to happen?
All valid questions, none of which mattered. They were in the past, and that was dead and buried, as far as Helena was concerned. Because as she kissed her husband, as he held her tight, as they showed one another how they both truly felt, Helena could literally feel something shift between them.
This marriage had started as one of convenience. They had fought to keep it so, but that was them being stubborn.Ironically, trapped in their own prison. But this kiss was the key that opened the doors and showed them a new way forward.
And now that they took those first steps, there was no going back. Nothing would be the same again.
CHAPTER 26
Helena woke up that evening with a smile on her face.
She did not know where the smile came from exactly. It was not planned. She was not thinking of anything in particular. It was simply there, large and bright, unescapable and refusing to leave. And dammit if she wasn’t thrilled by the fact.
She was slightly confused, but only because it was dark outside and it took her a moment to remember why she was waking up at night and not in the morning.
It is as if the entire world has changed around me. Up is down. Day is night. And married life is no longer a prison from which there is no escape.
She stayed in bed for a few minutes, staring at the dark ceiling, still able to feel the kiss on her lips.
It was just the single kiss, and once it was broken, Sebastian suggested that they needed to get their rest because there would be time to talk about its meaning later. Helena had agreed, but even still, it had been hard to pull away.
They had held onto one another’s hands for a minute. Gazing into each other’s eyes. Not wanting to be apart, which was strange and new to both of them. Strange… but somehow, it felt so right.
And Helena might have stayed in bed for hours as she replayed everything that had happened, only to hear noises coming from deep within the manor.
Her eyes widened, her smile grew, and she was up and out of bed, quickly rushing to find a robe to throw over herself because she knew who those sounds belonged to.
Sebastian was awake, and from the sounds of things, he was heading to the dining room. And Helena, not stopping to consider if it would be too much or if she was acting too desperately, hurried to meet him.
He was already seated at the dining table when she strolled into the room. Dressed in his nightshirt, hair messy, bags under his eyes, she guessed he had planned to have a quick supper. But that was going to change.
“Look who’s awake,” Helena purred as she waltzed toward the table, smiling still, and not caring that he saw it. “And looking rather shabby while he is at it.”
Sebastian cocked an eyebrow at her. “You can talk?”
She pretended to be upset. “I will have you know that I always look radiant. And I would appreciate it if you did not try to drag me down with your insults.”
“I am afraid that I’m done with all the lies,” Sebastian said with a wicked grin. “Besides, there is nobody here to see us. So, why would I feel the need to pretend?”
“Ah, I see how it is.” She strolled down the table, pretending to pout. “You’re only nice to me when there are people around.”
“Right in one.”
“I don’t know why I put up with it,” she sighed. “Truly, I cannot wait until this marriage is over, so I don’t ever have to look at you again.”
“Now who’s lying?”
Helena laughed, and her first instinct was to go to him and kiss him again. She wanted to.
She could still feel that kiss on her lips. She could still feel the way her heart had fluttered and how her body had melted. She could still remember clearly just how right the moment had been, and she very much wanted to experience it again.
She stopped herself from doing so, however.
Not so fast…
This was new to both of them, and while they were finally starting to be truthful with one another, she knew that it was too soon to get ahead of themselves.
Better that they do as they should have done weeks ago. No more running. No more pushing the other away.
