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‘We all seek validation in some form or other. And when that validation is withheld from us by one of the most important people in our lives, and repeatedly given less priority, it has a way of eroding self-worth. I have every material thing I could dream of at my fingertips, but the most important thing…the love I thought—knew—I deserved…was withheld by…’
He shook his head. The issues between him and his mother were private. He would not air her inadequacies now. Maybe never.
‘Deep inside I knew better than to accuse one person of another’s behaviour, but reality goes out of the window when feelings you’ve never truly experienced rip your insides out.’
‘What are you saying, Azar?’ Eden whispered, her fingers convulsing around his.
‘I was falling in love. Deeply. Irreversibly. And I didn’t know what do with those feelings. So when I believed you’d chosen someone else, I let that colour my judgement. And I lost you because of that.’
‘Azar—’
He shook his head, ploughing on with a desperation he hadn’t felt in a long time. If ever.
‘I wasn’t good enough for you then. You had every right to walk away. And I haven’t been good enough for you since you agreed to be my wife.’ He reached for her other hand, his insides shaking like a leaf in a thunderstorm. ‘But you have my vow, here and now, that I will not rest until I’m worthy of you. And if it carries me into the afterlife, I will spend an eternity winning you back.’
Her fingers trembled as they threaded with his, and he saw her nostrils quivering as she tried to hold back her emotions. Then she went one better and cupped his undeserving cheek.
‘You don’t need to win back what you have never lost, Azar. You only need to open your eyes and see what is in front of you.’
His jaw dropped, and he knew he was the furthest thing from cool and calm when he sucked in a sharp breath. ‘Eden.Mi reina.I—’
‘I forgive you for all of it, Azar. Just tell me what I want to hear.’
He swallowed, then laid the last of himself bare. ‘I love you,mi corazón. With everything I am. Inside and out. With every cell of my body. I love you, and I would be honoured if you would spend this life with me.’
For the longest second she simply stared at him, her eyes beautiful, her spirit glowing bright with the merest hint of reproach.
‘Took you long enough,’ she murmured.
The moment she swayed towards him he scooped her up, deposited her in his lap, then gruffly instructed her, because he was still a king after all, ‘Kiss me, my queen.’
She spiked her fingers in his hair and dragged him down to meet her lips.
Gasps echoed all around them. Feet shuffled. Some people probably attempted to give them privacy.
All Azar Domene cared about was that the most precious thing in his life was where she belonged.
Her cheeks were a deep pink and her beautiful eyes bright when they parted, and she clutched at him. ‘We’re breaking two dozen protocols…do you know that?’ she whispered, her sweet breath brushing his mouth.
He ignored the rolling cameras and carded his fingers through her hair. ‘I’ll break three dozen more just to keep you right here, in my arms.’
When her bottom lip quivered, he dropped his forehead to hers.
‘I’m so sorry for everything I’ve put your through,tesoro. I was a coward who hid behind his pain and distrust.’
She swallowed. ‘I should never have gone with Nick that day. I should’ve stayed and done everything in my power to show you how wrong you were. But it’s behind us now. I love you, Azar.’
He groaned under his breath, then rose, hitched her up more securely.
Then he walked out.
Ten minutes later he was deep inside his wife, in their bed, with her arms and legs wrapped tightly around him as if she’d never let him go. He planned never to let her.
‘Tell me again,’ he pleaded.
‘You first,’ she taunted throatily as he pushed even deeper, as if their newly revived souls were rising to wrap around each other.
‘Maybe these three years apart were exactly what I needed. Because your every breath, your touch, your scent, your love is so much more precious to me now, Eden. I will give up everything for you. I love you. I love you…Dios, I love you so much.’