Page 74 of Storm of Ink and Blood

“You broke my trust,” she said, but it was no longer an accusation. Just a statement of fact.

“I know I did. I messed up. I’ve messed up so many times when it comes to you, but I’ve never been very good at relationships. I’ve lived a long time, but when I’m around you, I feel like I’m brand new at everything.”

He pulled her towards him with a strong arm wrapped around her waist. She loved the way they fit together—her curves meeting the hard planes of his chest and thighs.

“I just need you to give me one more chance. I will do anything to make this up to you.”

She nodded. She’d already forgiven him once and lived to regret it.

Except that she didn’t. Not really.

Allowing him in that night might have led to the current state of her broken heart, but it also ranked as one of the most intense and life-altering experiences of her life. She wouldn’t have given that up for anything.

Even if he had told her the truth, would it have changed things between them? Even if she’d known, would she have ever felt anything different? No matter her feelings, he was still her paramadhar and, therefore, a piece of her life. Nothing would change that.

“I want to believe you and to trust you,” she said. “More than you can possibly know. You opened my eyes to the world. You make me feel things I’ve only dreamed about.”

He tipped his head, the corner of his mouth crooking up. “You mean things like you read in your naughty books?”

She snorted a laugh. “Sort of like that.” But then she shook her head. “But this is real life, not a story. And sometimes love and relationships are imperfect. I know that. I want to let you in. I want us to explore what we started in Dharati.”

He traced the curve of her jaw with his finger. “I want that too.”

She smiled, and he moved closer, dipping his head so their mouths were inches apart. “I want to kiss you,” he said with a low, rough voice, and she nodded. Then he softly pressed his mouth to hers.

As his tongue probed the seam of her lips, she opened them, welcoming him in. They kissed languidly, their tongues sliding and their hands clutching at one another. This was so decadent. So luscious. She moaned softly as he dragged her in closer, spinning her so her back was against the railing.

His leg shoved between her thighs, pressing against her core, and she groaned as she writhed her hips against him. “Gods, I’ve missed the taste of you,” he said. “The pure exquisite sound of that moan.”

“Rabin,” she breathed as he captured her mouth again, his body pressing flat against hers. She was sure they had things to discuss, but all she wanted was to answer this craving she’d been drowning in for months.

His hands grasped her hips as he drove his thigh harder against her, creating a delicious point of friction that had her hips squirming. She lost herself in the sensation, reveling in the feel of his leg against that sensitive spot that ached to be touched.

He leaned down, sucking the curve of her neck before he pulled up, bracing his hands on the railing and looking down at her.

“I want you,” he said. “Right now.”

She nodded, placing her hand on his chest. “You should know… there were others.”

His eyes narrowed, his pupils darkening. “How many?”

“Does it matter?”

Again, he glared before offering up one of those wicked smiles. “That’s perfectly fine.”

“Is it?”

“Yes. Now you’ll know I’m the best you’ll ever have.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m glad to see you’re just as full of yourself.”

That earned her another grin. “It’s just the truth, Spitfire.” He paused. “There was no one else for me.”

Though it wasn’t fair to expect it, something tight loosened in Zarya’s chest at those words.

“There will never be anyone else for me.”

“How can you be so sure of that?” she asked.