“I would like to,” I breathed. “I… I don’t want to stay away.”
I stayed away for ten years. I kept my distance to protect Aria, but also to ensure I wasn’t tempted by this man. I couldn’t stand to be close to him, knowing he couldn’t be mine, because he had been married.
Wanting someone wasn’t enough reason to destroy a family.
“I’m ashamed to admit this,” he said slowly, “but I’m done being the martyr. I want you so fucking bad, it hurts.” He dragged a hand over his face, exhaustion marring his features. “For ten years, you’re all I wanted and thought about.”
My heartbeat faltered, and when his eyes lifted fully to mine, I saw the truth in them.
Yes, there was want and desire, but also something a lot deeper that had worn into every fiber of his being and my pulse fiercely reacted to it.
“This isn’t the time for this,” I whispered.
“No,” he said softly. “It isn’t, but I’m so tired of waiting for the right time. Tonight, we were almost robbed of that time and I want to take every second, every breath with you. I want to love you, and fuck, Violet, I want you to love me too.”
Lykos looked like a man being torn apart by his own restraint.
“I am trying to be a decent man and a good father,” he said quietly, his voice edged with frustration. “God knows I am trying to think only about what was lost tonight, but all my thoughts, my heartbeat, and every breath revolved around you. I want to be selfish and take you for myself right now.”
His words brought tears to my eyes. Lykos looked devastated and exhausted down to the marrow, and still beneath all of that, he still wanted me.
I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around him, tilting my chin up so our eyes remained locked.
My heart pounded so hard it hurt.
“I want to be selfish too,” I admitted, swallowing hard.
“So many years wasted,” he said hoarsely. “I wanted to honor Amara. I wanted her to be happy and healthy, but nothing worked.” He let out a sardonic breath. “Aside from that one night with you, I remained faithful. I told myself it was an honorto keep my wedding vows. But losing you ten years ago shattered me. Destroyed me.”
The air between us went completely still, and for one moment, I couldn’t speak, seeing how deeply shaken he was by this admission.
Slowly, I cupped his face and lifted on my tiptoes, bringing our faces close together. Lykos went perfectly motionless.
“I love you too,” I murmured against his lips. “We’ll survive this and everything else together. And afterward… we see what’s left standing.”
He stared at me in silence.
Ten years lived inside that look. Ten years of restraint began to crack apart.
Then slowly, reverently almost, he brought his forehead to mine, closed his eyes and remained like that.
After ten years of loneliness, we could finally take a step toward the future together.
THIRTY-FOUR
LYKOS
After nearly two decades, the noose that had gripped my neck finally gave way.
I was finally free. I could breathe again.
And through it all, Violet was here.
The woman I loved stood beside me, her presence stitching me back together. The past still lingered like a fading shadow, but it no longer owned me.
Instead, it offered a new beginning that I probably didn’t deserve but that I would snatch with both hands and never let go.
I angled her face for better access and lowered my mouth to hers. I kissed her deeply, our tongues tangling while my free hand roamed her back all the way down to her perfect ass. She sighed into my mouth, making my insides burn with fire that was slowly but surely consuming me. I needed her with the desperation of a dying man.
