AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His shoulders slump, all the tension in his body disappearing.
“But I don’t want you to—”
“Why?” he interrupts before I can say another word, that same intensity returning as he moves toward me, his expression begging me to give him the answer he’s desperate to hear. “Why was he driving to my apartment?”
I draw in a deep breath, bracing myself to share the last few moments of Adam’s life with Creed. I’ve kept it from him for years, not wanting to burden him with any more guilt.
But as I stare into his eyes, I’m hit with a new realization. By keeping the truth from him, I allowed him to burden himself anyway. Every decision Creed has made over the past decade has been with his brother in mind. In trying to make things right between them.
If he knew Adam’s final act was selfless, one born out of love for his brother, perhaps he wouldn’t continue punishing himself like this.
Maybe he’ll finally realize hedoesdeserve to be happy.
That he doesn’t have to keep making sacrifices for a man who wanted nothing more than for his brother to have the same happiness he’d found.
“When Adam picked me up to take me to the gala, he asked me something.”
“What’s that?” Creed asks, muscles in his face tight.
I have to bite on my lower lip to stop my chin from quivering. The memory’s still so raw. It doesn’t matter it’s been nearly ten years. It feels like it was just yesterday. I can still see his pained expression. Still remember the strain in his voice. Still recall the way his shoulders fell out of remorse.
“He asked me if I wasn’t who I was and you weren’t who you were who I’d choose.” I swallow hard. “Jameson Gates or you.”
He steps toward me, barely a breath separating us as his stare bores into mine. “Who did you choose?”
“You, Creed,” I sob. “I told him that I would choose you today and every day forward, no matter what.”
With every word I speak, the weight that’s been crushing me for the past decade disappears, the truth I didn’t think I’d ever be able to admit flowing so easily.
“Told him that the royal household could dictate who I marry, but they didn’t get a say in who I loved. I told him I loved you.” I pause, blinking back my tears as I peer into those dark eyes that have always been my anchor. My salvation. My true north. “And I still do.”
“Still?” he asks, even though I essentially confessed as much earlier tonight.
I nod, barely able to see him through the kaleidoscope of tears obscuring my vision.
“Yes, Creed. I love you today. Tomorrow. And always. Nothing will ever stop me from loving you. Not time. Not distance. Nothing. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you all those years ago. I guess I was scared. After constantly being told there’s no place for love in a monarchy, you start to believe it. When everything fell apart, I didn’t think it mattered anymore, especially when I learned you’d been sworn into the guard. I knew how guilty you felt about everything. I didn’t want to add to that. Didn’t want you to place any more blame on your shoulders. But I realized something tonight.”
“What’s that?”
“You’ve spent the past ten years trying to do right by Adam. But if you knew his last act on this earth was in furtherance ofyourhappiness, maybe you’d finally allow yourself to be happy. Maybe you’d finally realize youdeserveto be happy. Even if I don’t picture into that happiness, I—”
Before I can utter another syllable, he cups my cheeks, his grip on me firm and determined.
“Do you really think I could even attempt to find happiness with anyone but you?”
His stare locks on mine, smoldering and intense as his lips descend toward me. Barely a whisper separates us, but with how much I’ve craved this man over the past several months, there may as well be an entire continent between us.
“It’s you, Esme. Today. Tomorrow. And always.”
He crushes his lips against mine, kissing me with more intensity and fervor than he ever has. I loop my arms around him, pulling him as close as possible, not wanting so much as a breath between us. Not now that we’ve finally made it to this place. Finally unburdened ourselves from a decade worth of regret, avoidance, and grief. Finally laid ourselves bare, put all our cards on the table. Despite it all, we managed to find our way back to each other.
“I can’t stop kissing you,” he rasps, eyes tracing over my face. Then he covers my mouth with his again. “Each one makes me want another. And another. And another.”
“Then don’t stop,” I murmur against his lips. “I don’t want you to ever stop kissing me.”
“As you wish.” He coaxes my mouth open, tongue tangling with mine as he breathes into me, giving me life.
Sliding a hand to my waist, he steers me backward through my apartment, barely coming up for air until we reach my bedroom. I’ve gone so long without losing myself in Creed’s kisses. I never want to go another second without them.
