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All things she struggled with or might not ever be able to give him.
However, as she searched River's handsome face, remembering his teasing, and his patience, and even how he'd stood up for her, she wanted more of that.
She could be selfish and say yes.
As she debated what to say, River moved closer and cupped her cheek. Nora closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, the only one she didn't fear from a male unrelated to her. His deep, soft voice filled her ears. "I don't have the power to see the future, and yet I almost feel like if I don't find a way to at least try with you, I'm going to fucking regret it. And the more I think about it, the more I realize that if we live away from the vampires, some place where you're just a female without her past weighing her down, we might actually have a shot. Maybe we could put a time limit on it. And at the end of it, if things truly don't work out, I can figure a way to give you your freedom."
She opened her eyes and searched his.
There were only two ways a married female became free again—divorce, which was rare, or if her husband died.
Or, at least appeared to die. In River's case, he might just go back to the future.
At the thought of never seeing River's smiling face, or hearing his abundance of curse words, or to never enjoy his teasing ever again, her heart squeezed. How could he be so prominent in her life after such a short time?
Maybe it was because he was her fated lord and her instinct would drive her to do whatever it took to claim him.
Or maybe, just maybe, it was something more than that. As if they were two pieces who'd waited a long time to come together and fit despite the mountain of differences between them.
"Nora? Please say something."
She cleared her throat. "Before anything else, I have one request."
Curiosity flashed in his eyes. "Anything."
Her heart raced and she almost lost her nerve, but Nora finally forced herself to ask, "Kiss me again, River. Please?"
His eyes widened in surprise, but his reaction quickly morphed into interest and even a little heat.
Which didn't make her want to run away. No, she took a step forward and placed a hand on his chest.
Her touch must've snapped something inside of him because he tilted her head up toward his and pressed his lips to hers.
At first he was gentle, and soft, and sweet. But then he seamed her lips with his tongue and Nora opened. As he explored her mouth, and stroked her tongue, and brought her body fully against his, some of her restraint shattered.
Tired of holding back, tired of fear, tired of horrible memories being the only thing she ever had of being intimate with a male, tired of her past having such a stranglehold over her, Nora shyly touched her tongue to his. At his groan, she ran a hand into his hair and pulled him even closer.
A strange fluttering in her belly expanded, a soft ache forming between her thighs.
As River moved a hand down to her arse and rocked her against him, she cried out at the flash of pleasure that shot through her. River immediately broke the kiss and laid his forehead against hers.
Even though they both breathed heavily, he managed to say, "I'm sorry. I couldn't resist, but I shouldn't have done that."
Nora could agree, say it was too far, and that he should be a gentleman.
And yet, that would be a lie.
When it came to River, and only River, she didn't want him to always be a gentleman.
That scared her a little, but not enough to avoid telling him the truth. "I liked it." She ran a hand against his waistcoat. "I liked all of it."
He sucked in a breath. "Fuck, Nora, is that true?"
She never broke her gaze. "Yes. Much like how you feel some pull to me, it seems to work the other way around as well. Partly because of my instinct to claim you. However…"
He stroked her cheek. "However, what?"
She bit her lip a second and her cheeks flushed, but she didn't hold back. "I also like you, River. More than I should." Her voice dropped and she looked away. "More than I deserve."
