between us, even if I was the one who’d put it there.
He’d told me the truth, and gave me back my memories. Although he appeared to be a different person outside of the small
circle we’d created, he didn’t deserve my judgement or my coldness.
“Please don’t,” I murmured as he walked towards the door.
“I do not wish to cause you heartache,” he replied gently.
He gave me a sad sort of smile and tried his best not to brush past me as he walked by. Reaching out, I took his wrist.
“Don’t make me beg again,” I whispered, turning towards him. “I think we should talk.”
“What is there left to discuss? You asked for me to leave you be, and I am. Even if you do go ahead with this wedding, I
will still keep my distance.”
I could see by the sorrow behind his eyes that wasn’t what he wanted, and I wasn’t sure if it was what I wanted either. I
didn’t want this much space. I wanted to at least be friends and build on a relationship. I still felt that intense urge to go
towards him. That pull that called to me even when I felt lost in the darkest pits of my mind.
“I don’t want that,” I said.
He snapped his wrist free of my hand and turned towards me in a flash, quicker than I thought possible. He placed both his
hands on my shoulders, his look becoming intense.
“What do you want then?!” he raised his voice, but he didn't sound angry. Nic sounded confused, and a little hurt. I could
feel him shaking slightly as he held onto me. “I promised to give you everything, the world if I can. All I asked in return was
for you to let me rule you, devour you in every way possible, and I would be your ever devoted servant.”
“But that makes me sound as if I am your slave! Someone who will do only as she’s told. Someone you can command at
your beck and call. You should know by now, Nicholas, that is not me and never will be me,” I told him desperately.
His eyes lowered to my lips as he licked his own. The heat between us was there, the sparks embedded deep within us. I
couldn’t explain it and I didn’t fully understand it. It frustrated me how one moment I was angry at him, I wanted to shove him
away or slap him. Then the next I wanted to feel his arms around me, and press my lips to his.
Was this what falling for someone was like? Is this what all those characters in my books talked about? The intense feelings
of lust, happiness, anger, and joy all rolled into one big mess. Was this it? Or was I so lost in my own mind that I didn’t
understand anything anymore?
“You are trying my patience, Ornella,” he spoke in a low growl.
If I could break free of his grip, I would have stepped away. I needed to sever the contact between us so I could think
straight.
“I don’t want you to rule me.”
