She ducks her head. “I probably should have told you more about what to expect beforehand.”
“I can understand why you didn’t. I haven’t made myself easy to talk to.” My hand flexes at my side, fighting the urge to reach out to her, not sure if that’d be wise, if she’d even find the physical contact reassuring. “I’m going to keep working on that. With your other matches as well as you. It doesn’t do any of us any good to keep fighting.”
A trace of a smile returns. “I’m glad we agree on that.”
I make an aimless motion around us. “If there’s anything else I can do—now or later—to prove how much I mean this, all you have to do is say it. If you have frustrations to get out, go ahead and yell at me. You need me to leave so you can process all this with the other guys, I’ll go. Hell, if you want to deal out a spanking as payback, who am I to refuse? I know the other me was better to you, but I can get there. Whatever it takes.”
Because she sees me, and that scares me too, but she’s the only person who’s bothered to really look. The only person who’s cared other than my brother, who kind of has to since I’m all he has.
She managed to look past my assholery to come to me for help, to offer me my full power, and I nearly chased her off.
No crime I’ve ever committed could be worse than doing that again. Than losing what might be my last chance to preserve the bond I’ve waited so long for.
Losing the woman at the other end of that bond, who impresses me more with every day.
Elodie lets out a rough laugh. “I don’t think spanking will be necessary. And I don’t want you to leave. But maybe…”
She sets the bundle of clothes down on the dresser behind her and walks up to me.
When she reaches up to touch the collar of my shirt, my pulse wobbles. She’s nearly as close as when I held on to herin Cosgrave’s car, the delicate jasmine scent of her skin filling my nose.
She grasps one lapel and tugs down. “Would the renowned Colson Raith bend his ego enough to beg for forgiveness?”
There’s a teasing note in her voice. I don’t think she’d be insulted if I refuse. But my heart lifts, because it’s the easiest thing in the world to follow her request and sink to my knees on the thick carpet.
I take her hand and clasp it between both of mine. It feels too distant with the fabric of our gloves in between, but looking up at her rather than down is already dizzying in a way that feels dangerous.
The words tumble out with painful honesty. “I’m sorry for being a total ass. I’m sorry for coming down so hard on you, before I knew what was happening and afterward too. I’m sorry for lashing out and making you feel you disappointed me. I don’t know if I can promise that I’ll never fuck up again, but I can promise that it won’t be because there’s anything wrong with you. It’s just me. Iwilldo my best. You’ve had to be so strong, and brilliant, and brave, and you’ve had to do so much of it on your own since you got here… Not anymore. I’m yours. I’mhonoredto be yours.”
A tear slips from Elodie’s eyes, and then she’s kneeling across from me, her arms looping across my shoulders. She tips her head against my neck with a sound like a stifled sob.
My heart rips in two. I hug her closer against me, guilt and protective urgency rippling through me.
My voice comes out in a mumble against her hair. “Elodie, I’m sorry. I’m here. Whenever you need me, I swear I’ll be here.”
I half expect her to tell me to get out after all. How much pain has she been holding in all this time, acting as stoic as she can, trying not to make more trouble forme?
Instead, her breath steadies. She eases back just far enough to look up at me, her gaze searching mine.
Her gloves patter against the floor. She sets her bare hands against my face. Her thumbs graze my cheekbones, palms against my jaw.
The scent of her floods my lungs. Her touch sends a quiver of electricity over my skin.
All I can do is answer the question in her eyes.
I tip forward and bring my mouth to hers.
Even though I’m the one who initiated it, the kiss hits me like a tsunami. A deeper desire than I’ve ever felt before rolls through my body. My nerves flare with the rush of heat provoked by every shift of her soft lips.
I’m drowning and soaring all at once.
The recognition sings through my veins beyond denial, beyond doubt. This is my match, my mate, the woman who’s meant for me. I need her like I need air.
The thrum of the bond urges me to solidify the connection, to follow the torrent of passion to its necessary climax. But the clamor stirs up a pang of recalled shame from the first time I lost my head.
I jerk away, catching myself before I’ve yanked right out of our embrace. My breath has gone ragged. Elodie peers at me, her cheeks flushed.
Utterly fucking dazzling.
