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Nik buried his hand in my hair as he pulled me against him, closing the distance between us. When his lips met mine, they tasted like redemption.

Salvation.

Deliverance.

I let him pull me against him, our chests pressed together hard enough that my breasts were trapped and achingbetween our chests with every heaving breath. We had kissed when he was Noctani, but it was nothing like this.Nothing.

My soul was onfire.

There was nothing I could compare to the sensation soaring through me as his lips devoured me. Worshipped me. I crawled into his lap, curling my legs around his back and hugging him close to me as he peeled the tear-stained robe from my body.

He held me against him forcefully. As if he thought I was going to disappear at any moment. As if this were only a dream.

And there—on the library floor in the middle of the night—he forgave himself foreverythingas he let me love him again. Let me kiss him until his lips were chapped and raw. Let me peel his shirt from his sun-tanned chest, exposing the tattoos I loved. Let me explore his skin with my fingers and my mouth as if it were the first time I had ever touched him like this.

And when I could feel him hard against me, he stood and took me into his arms once more, leading me towards his bedroom. I knew that when we came together, we would be whole once more. That whatever wall had been standing between us would be destroyed, and we could stand together as one.

And I needed that more than anything.

Neededhimmore than anything.

I couldn’t go to war until I had him by my side. I needed him more than he could ever know. With him by my side, I knew we could achieve anything.

I wasn’t whole without him, and as he touched me over and over again, I thanked the Mother for bringing him back to me. He didn’t stop touching me that night until I vowed the only one I would ever pray to again washim.

When I woke, the sun was streaming through the open window, warming the skin of my face. I was naked—the sheets tangled around me—an arm stretched over my stomach. I turned to see Nikolai still fast asleep, his eyes closed, his face peaceful. The lines that had creased his forehead the night before were gone, as if last night had rejuvenated him.

Replenished him.

My hand found his golden hair, and I ran it through my fingers. The strands were the finest silk against my skin, and I thanked the Mother once more for letting me have this moment. I had thanked the Mothera lotlast night, until I had begun thanking only Nikolai.

As if sensing my thoughts, Nik peeled his eyes open, a soft smile across his lips.

He made a humming sound, his head against my chest. “Good morning.”

His voice was raspy from sleep, and the sound sent a shock of warmth pooling through me. My lips curved into a smile as I gazed down at him. “Good morning.”

He propped himself up on his elbows, hovering over me, hunger igniting in his gaze once more. He brought his lips to mine, and I opened for him, allowing his tongue to caress me. He had been so, so broken last night, and there was still a glint in his eye that told me he hadn’t forgiven himself fully, but that he was on his way towards it. I assured him over and over that I wasn’t haunted by those memories, that whatever had transpired before this didn’t matter because I was here, and I was safe. That whoever he had killed while he was Noctani had been under Donika’s orders, and he couldn’t blame himself.

“I have to train with Annelise today,” I spoke, breaking the kiss with a heavy sigh.

We hadn’t gotten much sleep last night, and it had left me ragged and exhausted. My body was sore in delicious places as I imagined his was, too. When he sat up, I could see the marks I had scratched down his back as I held him against me under the moonlight.

Last night had been nothing like the last time we had sex. It wasn’t hard or rough, though I wouldn’t mind that again in the future. He had worshipped me. Loved every inch of me. It had been slow and sensual. Passionate.

When he stood from the bed to move towards the washroom, the sight of his bare backside had me wantingmore.

“Though I’m not sure when she’s due back. Perhaps it can wait—” My words trailed off as he turned around, his hard length already at attention.

I raised an eyebrow at him as I sat up on the bed, the sheets pooling around my hips.

“Diana, I am always hard for you.Always.”

“In that case… ” my words trailed off as I crawled off the bed towards him, pulling his bare skin against me.

I captured his mouth with mine, kissing him slowly. I pressed myself against him, my peaked breasts against his chest, my wetness rubbing against his thigh. He let out a low groan as he buried his hand in my hair, holding me against him. I pulled back to gaze into his eyes, and when I saw the expression of adoration there, I fell to my knees before him.

Both of his eyebrows raised high as he gazed down at me.