Page 96 of Gray Dawn

“No.” I had wasted a decade, I wasn’t wasting another second. “I had to see you.”

Warmth spread across her cheekbones. “You’re still in fascination with me.”

“I am.”

“You’re sure?” She dragged her upper teeth over her bottom lip. “I’m not the same person I was then.”

She was harder, stronger. But then again, so was I.

“Neither am I.” I lifted my hand, my palm itching to cradle her cheek. “May I?”

“Yes,” she breathed, leaning into my touch, closing her eyes as she anointed my fingers with her tears.

“I thought about you every day.”

“I missed you.” Her lashes glittered when they rose. “I tried to date, to move on, but…”

She finally,finallylooked at me, and time ground to a halt as grief and joy shone in her eyes.

“I’m glad.” I stroked her soft skin with my thumb. “I only ever wanted the best for you.”

“Yeah, well, I put in the effort. I never said it was a success.” She flashed her wrist again. “One of your scales, really?”

“You’re more offended I marked you with a scale than me being in fascination with you?”

“There’s a little thing calledconsentwe need to discuss.” She rolled her eyes. “But I would have said yes. I think you knew that. You wouldn’t have done it otherwise. You’re not a selfish person.”

“You have no idea how selfish I can be when it comes to you.” I clamped my jaw shut. “I shouldn’t?—”

“I’ve waited long enough to hear what you have to say to me, don’t you think?”

All the things I wanted to tell her got lodged in my throat. I wasn’t sure what I ought to say about my time with Calixta. If I should say anything at all. I didn’t want her to think I was broken. Even if I was. I knew my family would piece me back together. No. They would help me piecemyselfback together. But that would take time. Time I wasn’t willing to steal from her when I had already taken so much.

“I want you to be happy.”

“Good.” She took my hand and rested it on her hip. “I want that too.” She hiccupped, just once, and it took me back. I saw the girl she had been in the flush heating her cheeks. “I also want this.”

Rolling onto her toes, she pressed her lips to mine in a gentle kiss that gave and gave without taking.

It was a greeting. It was forgiveness. It was a promise.

Perfect.

“I want to try this.” She spoke the words against my mouth. “Me and you.”

Hands clutching the back of her shirt, I murmured, “I do too.”

“Stop being gross out there,” Daniel yelled through the screen door, a perfect mimic of Clay. “There are children present.”

“There’s a tub of your old clothes in the living room,” Arden said, “if you want to change before we go.”

The tunic and trousers I wore were the last remaining vestiges of my tenure as prince. I burned the rest. I had returned home the same as I left it—with only the clothes on my back.

“I’d like that.” I kept hold of her, my grip locked on. “I seem to be having difficulty letting you go.”

“Then don’t.” She took my hand and laced our fingers. “You can hold on for as long as you want.”

“What if I want forever?”