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The idea of discussing her horrid memories wasn't pleasant and would make her extremely uncomfortable. However, if River held her hand or close against his side while she did so, somehow Nora thought she could manage. "I agree. Now, let me write some of this down, and whilst I do, think about any remaining items."
"Let's see—we have honesty, sleeping arrangements, sharing the worst of ourselves, and your claiming stipulations. I guess I need to ask if you have work or a job? Or will it be me working and you keeping house? I don't expect that, but it seems to be the norm here and I'm just trying to find my damn footing without stepping on any toes."
Nora quickly finished writing what they'd discussed and finally answered, "I don't have an official job, I suppose. But I usually run my brother's household, as well as manage my safe havens from afar. I don't know how to cook very well, but I'm sure we can get by if need be."
River clutched her hand. "I'm going to work hard as fuck to get a practice going, Nora. I'm a fully trained doctor, plus I have knowledge of advanced healing techniques that probably aren't known here. I'll have to ask Dark Lord Khan about how much I can share of those, but I'm sure I can use them myself without revealing any secrets. If so, it'll give me a huge fucking advantage over other doctors. It may be shitty and rough at first, but I will work my damnedest to give you the life you deserve, baby."
She smiled. "Well, we haven't yet discussed my dowry. I do have one, so it may help."
River frowned. "They still have those things now?"
She laughed. "Of course. My brothers are quite wealthy, even with as much as they spend to help with sanitation and housing in the vampire territory. Leo's had decades to set aside some money for me."
It was one of the things she loved about Leo—even with all her emotional difficulties, he'd never spent her dowry or conveyed he didn't believe one day she'd find her fated lord and live a good life.
River grunted. "Shit, Leo might think that's the reason I want to marry you, for your money. I want to refuse it, and yet we might need a little to get started since everything I own is out of reach."
She shook her head. "Don't you dare refuse my dowry, as that will insult both Leo and myself. However, you can always have my brother set up a trust for me so I'm the only one with access to it. That way I can use it for what we need, but Leo can't claim you married me for my fortune."
"Whatever needs to be done, do it. I'm marrying you because I like you and would like to date you, Nora. Not because you're apparently loaded."
She scrunched her nose. "Loaded? I'm not sure I understand."
"It's a way to say you're filthy rich."
She laughed. "Why would you use filthy and rich together?"
He snorted. "It means you have a shitton of money, baby."
"Oh. Despite the fact you and Yesenia come from the same time period, you talk in different ways. Sometimes it's confusing."
River grinned. "It's because I spent the last six years in New Jersey, surrounded by bikers and much louder people than Yesenia." His smile vanished. "She had a fucking hard time back home. Everyone treated her like a goddamn outcast because they thought she didn't have any magic, and they acted as if they'd catch some flesh-eating disease if they merely talked with her."
She touched her leg against his briefly, until River met her gaze again. "I know she was lonely, and it was extremely unfair. But it sorted itself out eventually. And you've seen her with Leo—she's always glowing around him." She stared back at their clasped hands. "I sometimes get envious."
"Hey, even if we don't exactly have what Yesenia and Leo have, seeing you smile and laugh is one of my top priorities these days." He tugged their hands until his lips danced across her skin. It sent warmth to her belly and lower. River continued, "I can't erase your past, but I'm going to try and give you a fucking fantastic future, baby. I promise."
Her eyes heated with tears. Both from his words and the growing hope inside her that maybe one day they'd be like Yesenia and Leo. "I'm still convinced I'm dreaming. You're too good to be true."
River's gaze turned fierce. Standing, he released her hand, went over to her side of the table, and caged her in with one hand on the table and the other on the back of her chair. For a few seconds, they both stared and breathed heavily.
Nora's heart raced in a good way, and she wished she had the courage to bring his head down to kiss her.
River nuzzled her cheek and she let out a soft sigh as his light bristles scratched her cheek. His voice was huskier than earlier as he said, "I know we still have a few things to iron out, but I have a much better idea about what to do next."
She whispered, "What is it?"
He kissed her ear before his hot breath danced against her skin. "Let's make one of your dreams, or fantasies, or just mere curiosities come true. Tell me something you want me to do, where to touch you, or kiss you, and I'll do it. Maybe if you feel my mouth on your skin, you'll realize this isn't a dream."
Her first instinct was to push River away and protect herself.
However, as his breath continued to dance across her skin, warming her body, and making her ache between her thighs, Nora was tired of fighting it all—her past, her fears, even the expectations put upon many females in this time.
River was different for so many reasons, but she loved how he didn't treat her as if she were fragile or like a child. And it was time to try and act a little more like a grown female instead of the scared teenager of her past.
Because if she never could push past that, wouldn't risk a little to try something new, the bastards from her decade of hell would continue to win. And after fifty years, she was tired of always losing.
It was time to fight, even if it was only a little at a time.
