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He pulled back slightly, his breath mingling with hers.

“I still can’t believe you’re mine,” he whispered, his voice taut with emotion.

Smiling, she slid her hands up to his shoulders.

“I have always been yours.” Her voice trembled from the truth of her statement. “I just didn’t know it.”

Gaze softening, Shelby pulled Roxina close, cradling her firmly against the aroused heat of his body. He traced a slow, tantalizing path along the gentle curve of her waist, his touch igniting sparks beneath her skin. He kissed her again, deeper, more demanding this time, as if he could never taste enough of her, never hold her close enough, never claim enough of her passion.

Roxina matched his passion, her desire igniting like wildfire—fierce and unstoppable—spreading swiftly through her until it consumed every thought, every breath, leaving nothing untouched by its searing hunger. She threaded her fingers through his hair, relishing the sensation of the silky strands gliding through her grasp as she tugged him closer, desperate to anchor herself in the tempest he stirred within her.

Heat pooled low in her belly, radiating outward until every inch of her felt alive, aching, and yearning.

How had he stripped away her defenses so effortlessly, leaving her raw and vulnerable yet more alive than she had ever felt? He unleashed something primal inside her—a longing so potent she couldn’t resist even if she wanted to.

Lifting her effortlessly, Shelby carried her into the bedchamber. He set her down gently, trailing his hands over her shoulders and arms as he dropped to his knees before her.

Shadows danced along the walls, cast by the dancing fire bathing the room in a golden, flickering glow. Though modest, the bed, draped with a floral coverlet in soft shades of rose and ivory, beckoned invitingly. Embroidered pillows, plump and neatly arranged, added a feminine touch to the quaint chamber, while sheer curtains framed the small window, gently swaying with the faint draft from the door.

The chamber held a lingering hint of Mrs. Beale’s rose and jasmine perfume, mingling delicately with the warm air, creating an intimate, comforting haven.

Kneeling, his gray eyes darkened to flint, locked onto hers—intent and unwavering—as if he were determined to unravel every secret she hid behind her guarded heart. His shoulders rose and fell with each measured breath, his body taut as a bowstring, as if he struggled to control his desire.

The raw hunger in his eyes seared through her, mingling with a tenderness that both startled and ensnared her heart. Her pulse fluttered madly at her throat, and she swallowed hard, captivated by the dichotomy of his expression—a potent blend of desire, adoration, and reverence that sent a tremor straight to her core.

He saw her as something precious, something worth cherishing—and tears misted in her eyes.

He slowly lifted his hand, almost hesitantly, before brushing his knuckles along her jaw, his touch worshipful but cautious, as if he feared breaking the spell between them.

At Shelby’s tender caress, warmth spread through Roxina, tingling along her skin like the kiss of morning sunlight after a stormy night. She lacked the will and power to tear her gaze from his, mesmerized by the way he studied her face, as though memorizing every curve and contour, every nuance of emotion.

Her breath quickened as he kneeled before her, his focus never wavering. He traced the curve of her cheek with his fingertips, gliding along the line to her collarbone, where her pulse hammered beneath his touch like a trapped songbird.

A soft sigh escaped her, unbidden and vulnerable, and Roxina yearned to reach for him again, to pull him back to her and lose herself in the safety of his arms.

How could he make her feel so unguarded, so precious, and so completely alive all at once?

Shelby kissed her hands, brushing his lips over her knuckles as if making a silent vow.

“I have dreamed of this—of you—far longer than you’ll ever know, Roxina,” he whispered, his voice guttural and raspy.

Roxina’s heart thudded in response, and she traced his jawline with trembling fingers.

“I never dared to hope for this.” Was that breathy voice hers? “For you to love me—want me.”

He quirked his mouth into a tender smile before kissing her once more, this time with unrestrained desire that made her pulse race. She leaned into him, craving his touch, desperate to feel all of him.

They shed the layers of propriety and expectation, leaving only truth and tenderness behind as they came together in love and wonder, consummating their pledge for all time.

When they finally lay together, satiated and cocooned beneath the quilt, Roxina nestled against him, resting her head on his shoulder. Shelby stroked her hair, murmuring words of love and devotion that wrapped around her heart like a comforting embrace.

He kissed the crown of her head, whispering softly, “Now that you are finally mine, I shall never let you go.”

A tear escaped the corner of one eye, trailing down Roxina’s cheek, and she smiled against Shelby’s broad chest. She traced the soft, curly hair, feeling the steady beat of his heart, the rhythm, a promise of what was to come.

“You have claimed every piece of me—my heart, my soul, my very breath. I never knew love could feel like this. You’re the answer to every prayer I never dared to speak, Shelby. You make me believe in impossible things.”

He kissed her forehead, his lips warm and firm against her skin. “You, my darling, are branded into my soul—an unspoken vow that not even eternity can erase.”