Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 30190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
“I didn’t write anything!” Her eyes were bright with unshed tears now. “Ella just gave me your letter, and y-you...you were the one who wished me well, and it m-made me cry, I c-couldn’t—I had to—”
Mik’hail went still the moment he heard Aurora mention the other girl’s name, and understanding dawned, slow and terrible.
Ella, you meddlesome brat.
It was Ella, not Aurora.
Ella who had played matchmaker because she had seen how Aurora had cried over his missive.
“Mik’hail?” Her voice was small now, uncertain. “What did the letter say?”
He couldn’t speak. Could barely breathe.
“What did it say?” she asked again, and this time her voice cracked. “Was it—did Ella tell you I’d found someone else? Is that why you’re here? To make sure I don’t embarrass you by—”
“Stop.”
The word came out hoarse, ragged.
“Stop,” he said again, softer this time. He released the wall and cupped her face in his hands, tilting it up so she had no choice but to meet his eyes. “I’m not here because of embarrassment. I’m not here because of duty or obligation or any of the other excuses I’ve been hiding behind.”
Aurora’s lips parted, but no sound came out.
“I’m here,” Mik’hail said grimly, “because the thought of you with another man made me want to tear the world apart.”
A tear slipped down her cheek.
“I’m here because I’ve been miserable without you. Because I can’t sleep, can’t think, can’t breathe without wondering if you’re okay. Because pushing you away was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I’m not strong enough to do it again.”
“Then why, akh?” The words came out broken. “Why did you do it in the first place? Why did you tell me you wanted to marry Ella? Why did you—”
“Because I was afraid.” He brushed the tear away with his thumb. “Because you’re Aretha’s sister, and I thought—I thought if anyone found out about us, it would destroy you. The scandal, the rumors, the way people would talk—”
“I don’t care about any of that.”
“I know.” His voice was raw. “I know you don’t. But I do. I care about protecting you, even from myself.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought if I pushed you away, you’d be better off. But then I read that letter, and I thought—”
He couldn’t finish.
“You thought I’d moved on,” Aurora whispered.
“Yes.”
“I could never move on from you.” Fresh tears were spilling down her cheeks now. “Don’t you understand? I’ve been in love with you since I was eighteen years old. I’ve wanted you for so long that I don’t even remember what it feels like not to want you. And when you told me you were going to marry someone else—”
Her voice broke.
“It broke me, Mik’hail. It completely broke me.”
The sound of his name on her lips undid him.
“I’m sorry.” He kissed her forehead. “I’m so sorry, Briar.” He kissed her cheek, tasting salt. “I was a fool.” He kissed the corner of her mouth. “A coward.” And then, finally, he kissed her lips, soft and reverent. “Can you forgive me?”
She answered by throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him back.
The kiss started gentle, but it didn’t stay that way.
All the weeks of longing, all the nights of wanting, all the desperate aching need they’d both been fighting—it all came pouring out the moment their lips met.
Aurora’s fingers dug into his hair, pulling him closer. Mik’hail groaned against her mouth and lifted her, her legs wrapping around his waist as he carried her to the narrow bed.
He laid her down and braced himself above her, drinking in the sight of her. Her hair spread across the pillow like spun gold. Her robe had fallen open, revealing the thin nightgown beneath, and he could hear the rapid catch of her breath, could feel how much she wanted him in the way her body arched toward his.
“Mik’hail.” Her voice was breathless and helpless. “Please.”
“Tell me to stop.” He was already lowering his mouth to her throat, already learning the wild flutter of her pulse. “Tell me to stop, and I will.”
“I...I...” Her back arched as his lips trailed lower. “I c-can’t...”
He groaned against her skin. “Aurora—”
“I j-ju...” Her hands were tugging at his robes now, desperate to feel his skin against hers. “P-Please, akh...”
The words broke the last thread of his control.
He kissed her deeply, thoroughly, losing himself in the warmth of her as she sighed into his mouth. She was so soft beneath him, so responsive to every touch.
When he finally parted her robe and slipped the nightgown from her shoulders, she didn’t shy away. She looked up at him with those stormy blue-gray eyes, vulnerable and trusting, and in her eyes were words that, once seen, could never be unseen.
I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
The words destroyed and rebuilt him in ways he could never describe. He could only kiss her again.