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“Was that why you ended the comms so quickly?” Eden pulled on her pants.
“Yeah. It was a jerk move, but I didn’t know how to handle it.”
“You should never cut off your mom when she’s quizzing you.”
“You’re so right. And she’s the powerhouse in that relationship. She understands these arranged matches aren’t always full of happiness. She’s talked to me about it a few times but always discreetly.”
“You don’t think your mom is happy with your dad?”
“She’s not unhappy. But she recognizes the importance of finding love. I think she wishes she could have it.”
“So we get your mom on our side.”
“I’m not pitting my parents against each other. But they need to know the truth. You ready?”
Eden shook her head.
Blaze kissed her again. “You are. Let’s do this.”
The ride back to the sanctuary was quiet. He didn’t let go of Eden’s hand the whole time. Part of him was afraid she’d slip away or change her mind, and he needed that physical contact to make sure this was really happening.
Eden stopped the vehicle outside the sanctuary. She sat in the seat, her hands gripping the steering wheel.
“You’re quiet. You’re never quiet,” Blaze said.
She kept her gaze fixed forward. “For the first time in my life, I’m frozen with fear.”
He laughed. “They aren’t scary.”
“They are. And they’re powerful.”
“So are you.”
“But they’re powerful and rich with a ton of connections. I’m just—”
“The woman I’ve lost myself to. The woman I’m having in my life forever if she’ll have me.”
She turned to him. “Forever?”
“Yes, Eden Franco, forever. You got a problem with that?”
She blinked her shiny eyes. “It sounds awesome.”
They climbed out, and Blaze jogged along to his room, Eden beside him.
“I’ll contact them now,” he said as they walked into his room.
“Wait! Give me a minute. I need to make sure I look presentable, and not like I’ve just been thoroughly screwed by their son.” She dashed into his washroom.
Eden looked perfect to him, with her sex messy hair and stubble scratched chin. She looked even more adorable than usual.
He waited until she came out of the washroom and nodded at her. “All good to go?”
She clasped her hands in front of her. “I’ve forgotten how to breathe.”
“They’re not tyrants. They’re just people who’ve lived a certain way for so long that they can’t see any other path. This is our opportunity to make them see there is a different way. A way that could make everyone happy.”
“Are you sure about this?” Eden rested a hand on his chest. “I’m nothing special on Earth. I have no connections or influence. My mom, she’s... a criminal. She’s not a good person.”
