Page 38 of Between These Broken Hearts (Cursed Stars #2)

Kendrick and Natan are out longer than expected, but Amelia distracts me from my worry by telling me about her family and

life in Elora. She asks me questions about where I grew up and what it’s like to live in the Midnight Palace. By the time

Kendrick and Natan appear, she feels like an old friend.

“Did everything go okay?” she asks, pushing out of her seat to pour two fresh mugs of tea.

“More or less,” Kendrick says. “We’ve been gone too long. People start losing faith that change is coming when they don’t

see progress.”

“It was fine,” Natan says. “He’s just in his head about everything.”

Amelia nods, but I can tell she’s fighting back a frown. “Natan, Remme is sitting out back. He said to send you out there

when you got home.”

Natan’s eyes brighten, and he hoists his mug in the air. “Does he already have one of these or should I take one for him?”

“He’s chosen the kind of refreshment you drink straight from the flask tonight,” she says, winking.

“Ah, in that case...” Natan pours a second mug of steaming tea, and Amelia watches as he heads out back.

“I’ve missed them,” she says softly before turning her attention back to Kendrick. “Hurry and save the realm so I can have

my brother back, okay?”

I put my mug down. “Natan is your brother?” But as soon as I say it, I realize my mistake. She and Remme have the same dark

hair and deep brown eyes. “You’re Remme’s sister.”

She shrugs. “Natan is a bit of an honorary brother, but yes. I share blood with Remme.”

“A few short years ago, she wouldn’t have admitted to that so easily,” Kendrick says.

“He was a pest to grow up beside. Just ask Felicity. He tormented her nearly as much as he tormented me.” She smiles into

her tea. “But I suppose after seeing him so rarely in the last few years, I’ve learned to appreciate him.”

“I hope he gets to come home soon,” I say. “He and Natan both. Someone as kind as you deserves to have her family around her.”

She flashes me a grateful look and then draws in a shaky breath and slaps the table. “Anyway! Enough about me and my depressing

life. You must be exhausted. Go put on your pajamas and I’ll find some extra blankets since it’s getting cold tonight.”

I laugh. “We packed light. Didn’t exactly bring pajamas.” I glance down at my riding clothes and shrug. “I can just sleep

in these.”

She scoffs. “You have a night with the handsome and charming Hale Kendrick and you’re going to spend it wearing stinky riding

clothes? No. I won’t have that. Come follow me.”

I rise obediently, following her toward the stairs. I sneak a glance at Kendrick, who merely winks before leaning back in his chair with his tea.

“I don’t have anything fancy,” she says as she leads me into the bedroom. She pulls open a drawer and rifles through it. “How

about this?” She pulls out a piece of silky cyan fabric and holds it up for my inspection.

My cheeks flare hot as I take in the slip. Truth be told, there’s not much to it. “I do hope you have those extra blankets

if I’m going to wear that.”

“The client I had in mind for this is a bit fuller bodied than you, so it might slip off the shoulders, but with this style

it doesn’t much matter.”

I drag my bottom lip between my teeth. “Do you think he’d like that?” I’ve had so little time for vanity in my life. I was

far too fixated on revenge and fear to worry about how I look or if a male might find me attractive, but right now I very

much want to wear something that Kendrick will like me in.

Her bit-back laughter puffs out as a light snort. “Oh, I think so.” She nods toward the door. “Why don’t you go across the

hall and get cleaned up and changed? There’s some water waiting by the fire. Should still be warm enough. I’ll send Kendrick

up to join you in a few minutes.”

She heads for the door.

“Amelia?” I look down at the silky blue fabric one more time before meeting her curious gaze. “Thank you.”

She flashes me a grin that reminds me so much of Remme I’m not sure how I didn’t see it before. “I am more than happy to assist

in matters of seduction.”

My cheeks heat. “Not that... well, that too, but thank you for being so friendly.” I swallow. “I haven’t had a lot of friends, and I don’t know whether the oracle will help us with what we need so I’ll have the chance to make more. For what it’s worth, I’m grateful I met you.”

Her expression turns solemn. “If the oracle doesn’t give you the information you need, you’ll find it somewhere else. I believe

that.” She pulls open the door to my bedroom and waves me inside. “As for the rest, I am honored to be your friend. We’ll

have lots and lots of nights where I can tease Hale about how much he adores you. I can’t wait to spend years watching the

way he lights up whenever you’re in the room.” She backs into the hall and gives me a final nod. “Rest well.”

I take my time washing up. The water isn’t hot, but it’s not so cold it leaves a chill either, and after being in my riding

clothes all day I’m more than grateful for the chance to have clean skin before slipping into such a lovely gown.

When I return to my room, I release my hair from the high tie and take my time brushing it out.

The top section has gotten long and nearly falls to my waist now.

A soft knock sounds at the door and a tiny shiver races from my belly to my sternum. “Come in?”

The door slowly opens and Kendrick steps inside the room, looking uncharacteristically bashful, his gaze pointedly not straying from my face, which means there’s no way he’s missing my eyes on him.

He’s clearly done his own cleaning up before joining me.

He’s shirtless and wearing a pair of soft breeches that show off his strong thighs.

His golden chest has a spattering of light brown hair on it and my gaze snags on the line of characters tattooed over his heart.

“Hi,” he says softly. Shyly.

There’s no point in pretending this hasn’t been a very calculated evening, so I stand and wave a hand down my body. “How do

I look? Amelia thought you might like this.”

His pupils dilate and his tongue darts out to touch his bottom lip. “I like you . Doesn’t matter what you wear.”

“You like me.” I catch myself crossing my arms in front of my chest and drop them. “But maybe I hoped you’d want me.”

“I have wanted you since the moment Remme and Skylar brought you to our cabin eight months ago. I wanted you when you were

angry with me and when you were scared and when you were reckless. When you were in your dress from the palace and when you

were in those outfits of Sky’s.” He strolls forward, letting his eyes sweep over the slip, and my bare thighs, before he stops

in front of me and traces one strap of the slip with a callused fingertip. “A nightgown couldn’t make me want you more than

I already do. That’s just not possible.”

“Amelia will be disappointed all her thoughtfulness was for nothing.” I sound a little breathless. I feel a little breathless.

“I’m not so concerned about what Amelia thinks. I’m more interested in the fact that you wanted to wear this. And you want

me here?” It comes out as a question, and I realize he’s still not sure where he stands with me. Still not sure where we stand. And that’s my fault.

“I always want you to be wherever I am.”

His throat bobs. “Happy to oblige.” His gaze skims over me again. “I do think this suits you, though. You deserve more time in pretty things.” I shiver and he glances to the fireplace. “Though if that’s really what you’re going to sleep in, I should get some more wood on that fire.”

I admire the roll and pinch of the muscles in his back as he works, and when he turns to me, he catches me staring. His grin

is all dimples and crinkled eyes and I feel more in love than ever.

This , I think. If I get to live, I want more moments like this. The simple joy shared between two people who see each other, the quiet moments somewhere cozy.

And if I live but Kendrick serves on the Eloran throne married to another woman?

After being doused in Amelia’s optimism, it’s easier than ever to push that thought away.

“Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours,” he says, rising to stand before me.

I scan his face, study the kindness I recognized in his eyes from the first time we met. “I’m thinking about not thinking too much, actually.”

He brushes his knuckles against my cheek. “What happens if you think too much?”

“I get hung up on things I can’t control.” I swallow. “I’m not going to trade this moment’s happiness for worries of something

that may or may not happen tomorrow.”

“Happiness.” He traces my bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. “Is that what this is for you?”

“I think it might be. Ridiculous, given the circumstances, isn’t it?”

He drops his hands to my hips and pulls me close, bending down to rest his forehead against mine.

“I think that’s how we know it’s happiness.

It isn’t contingent on everything around us feeling easy.

” He releases a breath. “Though I would like a little easy, even if just for a while, if you’re going to keep looking at me like that. ”

I breathe him in. He smells like soap and pine. Like safe . “How am I looking at you?”

He cups my face, skimming the bridge of his nose over mine. “Like you might want me to kiss you.” He takes my hand and places

my palm against his chest, right over the steady thump of his heart. “Like you might want to touch me as much as I want to

touch you.”

“That makes a lot of sense, since both are true.” Relief washes over his face and I have to shake my head. “I know I pushed

you away, but it wasn’t about you.”

He puts a finger to my lips. “I was wrong to ask anything of you when I hadn’t made it clear I was offering more.”

I find his mouth with mine and kiss him while I relish the rhythm of his heart against my hand.

His lips are gentle as they explore—parting and closing, nipping and sucking—but then I thread my fingers through his hair

and tug him closer and he growls into my mouth. “If I had the magic to stop time, I would use it to stay here with you. Let

the rest of the world carry on without us.” He bends to slide his hands to the back of my thighs, then lifts me off the floor.

I instinctively wrap my legs around his waist. He lowers himself into the chair, keeping me on his lap.

“I don’t think I’d argue with that,” I admit. “I don’t want to be anywhere but here.”

“Good.” He grips my hips tightly, like he’s trying to pull me even closer. I can feel the hard length of him through his soft sleep pants.

I like this angle, looking down at him, our bodies flush. It’s intentional, I realize. He’s giving me complete control.

I draw back enough to watch his face and pull the silky slip off over my head.

His throat bobs, and his gaze drops, roaming over me.

“I feel beautiful when you look at me like that.”

His eyes flick back to my face. “You should always feel beautiful.”

I shrug. “It never mattered to me before. And maybe it shouldn’t now. It’s such a superficial thing, beauty.” I drop my gaze

to his chest and trail my fingers across his collarbone. “But I think I need to know you see me. Not despite the scars and

not because of them, but just that when you look at me, you see all of me.”

“I do,” he says, voice rough, “and it’s the greatest honor of my life.” With a hand slid roughly behind my neck, he pulls

my mouth down to his and kisses me fully, like he’s trying to pour everything he feels into one kiss, like he’s trying to

convince me with his lips and tongue alone that I am all he sees.

The fire crackles beside us, warming the room and the bare skin he’s exploring with the tentative brush of fingertips up my

back and down my side. One palm presses to my ribs and drags up to cup my breast.

He breaks the kiss and meets my eyes. “This is okay?” I love the rough edge to his voice, the one that lets me know how much he wants this, wants me, while also reassuring me that if I stopped things now, he would absolutely follow my lead.

“If it’s okay with you.” I sit back, giving his hands more room to move and his eyes more room to explore.

His breath catches. “Nowhere else I want to be.”

He drags an open mouth down my neck and across my clavicle, tongue warm against my rapidly heating skin. When he picks me

up again, he takes me to the bed and lays me down on top of the covers.

I reach for him and he takes my hand in his, squeezing as he brings it to his mouth for a quick kiss. His eyes stay on me.

He shucks off his sleep pants and climbs onto the bed, lying beside me, propped up on one elbow and scrutinizing my face.

I smile. “Don’t look so worried. I’m okay.”

He shakes his head. “I want you to be better than okay. I want you to be good—great, amazing.” His gaze slides down my body

again and his breath hitches. “I want to make sure you’re feeling even a fraction of how I am right now.”

I can’t keep my smile from stretching across my face. “I’m good, great, amazing.”

“Hmm. I’m not convinced yet.” He trails fingers between my breasts and over my stomach.

I arch into his touch, and when his hand finds its way between my legs, I drag in a shaky breath.

“You’ve thought about this.” It isn’t a question. He knows I have, but he still wants to hear it. “Since the last time.”

“Yes.” My hips lift—seeking, pleading—as he teases me. “You?”

“I hate that I can’t remember, but I think about it anyway. All the time.”

I melt, tomorrow and all the what-ifs falling away in the face of sensations that start in one spot and seem to radiate out to my whole body.

When I can’t stand any distance between us anymore, I loop an arm around his neck and tug him toward me, guiding him to position

his body over mine. The weight of his hips settles between my thighs, and the tenderness in his eyes turns back to fire. I

sigh happily.

“I want to give you so much more.” He nuzzles the side of my neck. “I will give you more. I’ll find a way.”

His whiskers are rough beneath my palm as I urge his face up and press my lips to his. The broad expanse of his back feels

like a dream beneath my fingers, warm and taut. “I want this,” I say, in case it’s not clear. “ No matter what tomorrow brings.”

He shifts his position over me. I feel him against me now and tense in anticipation. “I will always choose you,” he says.

“No matter what tomorrow brings.”

He angles his mouth over mine and kisses me so deeply I let the tension evaporate. He feels the change and grunts softly as

he moves into me. Slowly. So slowly I could push him away. So slowly I don’t need to. My body is warm and pliant and ready

to give everything his asks. Then we’re joined, and he’s looking down at me like I’m a miracle and I think I’m looking up

at him the same way.