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"It's perfect," I whisper, tears already at the corner of my eyes.

He's managed to illustrate exactly what I'd been feeling for years.

"You're perfect, hell girl." He comes closer to me, his thumb under my chin as he prompts me to look into his eyes. "You're the bravest, most wonderful woman I've ever met. And because of that, I know how lucky I am that you forgave me," he says, his mouth coming down on my cheek, his tongue slipping out to lick one tear.

"I know how tightly you hold on to your principles. And I know what it must have cost you to forgive me." He continues, moving to the other cheek and repeating the movement, swallowing up all my tears. "For that, I can't tell you how grateful I am."

I raise my eyes to his, noting the ravage on his features as he gazes at me with love, sorrow, and more love.

Adoration.

It might be more apt to call it adoration. The way Iknowhe could never last without me. The way I knowIcould never last without him.

And suddenly I'm at peace with my past. All the resentment settles down in my heart as I realize everything happenednotto tear me down, but to strengthen me.

Make me strong enough for him.

"Why, Vlad, you might actually sound like a romantic." I poke him playfully, a little overwhelmed by emotion.

"Of course." He smiles, the tension from his face gone. "I'm adopting romance as my new religion, with you as its goddess."

His glib tongue never fails to amaze me.

"Is that so?" I ask, trailing my finger down his chest, once again marveling at the hard wall of muscle that meets my touch.

"Yes," he rasps out, his voice full and husky. "I'll worship you," he starts, and my pulse picks up, "I'll kiss the ground you walk on." My breath catches in my throat, his words starting to affect me, the room suddenly too hot. "I'll be your servant, your whipping boy, whatever you want me to be," he continues and my eyes snap shut, his deep voice caressing my senses and making me shiver.

"Hmm," I murmur, feeling him so close, yet too far, "your arguments are pretty convincing," I manage to say, "I guess Icouldallow you by my side," I add cheekily, and he smirks. "But I thought you weremyGod." I raise an eyebrow at him.

"Still am." He winks at me, seductive arrogance dripping from his crooked smile, his dimple prominent and begging to be kissed. "But what's a God without his goddess? We rule together, hell girl." His hand comes up to my face, his thumb brushing against my lips as he backs me into the wall.

"Remember, there's no Vlad without Sisi." His intent gaze on me, I don't miss the way his pupils dilate, his entire body ready to ravish me.

One arm snaked around my waist, he effortlessly lifts me in his arms, my legs wrapping around his waist.

"And no Sisi without Vlad," I complete the sentence, his mouth claiming mine in a searing kiss that has my toes curling in excitement.

Holding on to him, I let him show me just how much we're one half of a whole—always needing the other to be complete.

22

SISI

"Tighter," he commands, his voice stern as he hovers behind me, his eyes sharply assessing the shape of my fist.

"Like this," he tsks, coming closer. His front fitted to my front, he wraps his hand over my fist, dwarfing it.

It's not the first time I've noticed that his giant hands seem to swallow mine.

He carefully organizes my fingers in a tighter fist, his feet knocking at mine as he arranges my stance, too.

I wobble slightly as he kicks my feet apart, my position now emulating his.

"When someone tries something," he whispers, his voice deep and grave, "you kick first, ask questions later. Or even better," I feel a smile pull at his lips, "kill first, ask questions… never," he chuckles, and my own lips twitch.

"Come on, you know I've gotten better," I complain slightly, half turning my head to bat my lashes at him. The action catches him by surprise, as I knew it would, his eyes zoning in on my poor attempts at flirtation.

Still, it's enough to have him wholly enthralled, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he swallows forcibly, his pupils dilating.