AllFreeNovel
Share Us
River spoke before she did. "Hey, the first rule if we get married is that we’re always going to be honest with one another. Tell me what you're thinking right here, right now."
His words brought Nora out of her head. "So there will be rules for our marriage?"
He shrugged. "I think it'll help. Both of us are out of our fucking element with this. I've never had a serious relationship before for so many reasons, and I have a feeling you're the same way, right?" She bobbed her head since she'd never been courted, and he continued, "Okay, so tell me what's on your mind, baby. I can't plan a future, our future, until you do."
It was his term of baby that finally gave Nora the courage to blurt, "I'm worried you'll regret it all—me, living in the past, being married to me, and one day you'll wake up and hate me."
He took her face between his hands, and as he stroked her cheeks with his thumbs, she relaxed a fraction. "Hey, if things turn sideways, we'll figure out what to do. But I think if you go into this thinking we'll fail, we will, Nora. I wouldn't suggest us getting hitched if I didn't want to try with you for real."
Nothing but honesty and sincerity shone in his eyes, and the sight made hers tear up. "But why with me? I still don't understand it."
He traced her cheek. "Because I want to be the one to tell you every day how sweet you are, or kind, or that you're so fucking beautiful. And I'll continue to say it until you believe me because it rips my fucking heart apart to see you think so little of yourself, baby. You are so much more than your past, and I hope one day you'll see it."
A tear rolled down her cheek and River wiped it away. Leaning down, he kissed her cheek. "Don't cry, Nora. I can't fucking stand seeing you so sad or upset."
He pulled her to his chest and she crashed into him, wrapping her arms around his back and laid her cheek against his chest. For a moment, she merely reveled in his heat and steady heartbeat, and his own unique scent that both calmed her and drove her mad in a good way.
She'd done everything she could to try to warn him away, and River still offered marriage to her. Nora yearned to have his steady, charming presence near her every day, to sometimes forget about the past and live in the present. So she was going to be selfish and face the consequences. "All right, I'll marry you and move to the fae witch territory."
He hugged her tightly and she smiled. In River's arms, she didn't feel trapped or afraid. No, she was safe and almost felt wanted.
He didn't let go of her as he replied, "Thank fuck, I was worried you were going to say no."
She laughed and leaned back to look up at him. "I'm not sure why you want me so much." He opened his mouth, but she beat him to it. "But you've made me think of a future, of having things I've never thought possible before, and I want more of it. So I suppose I'm being selfish."
He smiled down at her. "If we're both being selfish wanting to spend time together, doesn't that cross them out and make it unselfish?"
She snorted. "I have no idea."
"Well, at any rate, before we get down to the nitty-gritty—and maybe write down some rules to help us both adjust and not have to walk on eggshells around one another—we better go find your brother and tell him before news of today reaches his ears."
She sighed. "I know, although it's not going to be easy."
He leaned his forehead against hers. "Just wait, baby. After I tell him about that Prudence chick, he'll forget about any anger toward me and direct it all at her."
She rolled her eyes. "You sound quite confident. But Leo is clever and won't be so easily distracted."
"Regardless, Leo focusing on that bitch will definitely help things for us."
Nora was about to ask yet again if he was sure, but River kissed her gently before stepping back. "Okay, then let's go find him. Because I'm the sort of person that once I make a decision, I like to rush into it and get it done."
Nora wasn't the same way; she was cautious to a fault. However, when it came to River, she always seemed to surprise herself. And this time, she was actually a bit impatient as well.
There were so many reasons it wouldn't work between them. But she pushed them aside for the present because she was going to try River's advice of not assuming failure before it happened. "Right, well, Leo should be in his study at this time of day."
He took her hand and tugged. "Awesome, then let's go."
And as they went through the hallways hand in hand, Nora's heart rate sped up. Her life had been about order, and routine, and safe comfort for so many decades that she worried about deviating from it all.
And yet, she'd been rudderless, without much of a purpose or real life, for so long. Ambrose's words about her not really living came back to her, and she had to admit he'd been right.
Ambrose.She'd have to tell him, and soon. Her only hesitancy was how she'd see even less of her son if she moved into the fae witch territory.
But she'd find a way to make it work. Ambrose was a grown male, and one day he'd be in the same situation as she was when he discovered his fated bride. And when that happened, Nora only wanted the best for him, and hopefully he'd want the same for her.
And yes, she did think this was a good move for her.
Soon they reached Leo's study and River knocked. Pushing all other thoughts out of her head, she steeled herself for whatever was coming. Her brother loved her, but he was extremely overprotective.
