Page 153 of Kiss Me Like I Didn't Kill You

“Already handled,” she says smoothly.

We step inside the lift, and it begins to rise. The city stretches out beneath us, Paris glowing against the dusk, a thousand lights flickering as if the whole world’s holding its breath.

When it dings and the doors slide open, I expect the viewing platform.

Instead, it’s a restaurant.

I open my mouth to speak, but Octavia nudges me forward. I take a few hesitant steps inside and turn back, just in time to see the doors closing with my sister still inside.

I narrow my eyes, suspicion rising, but a soft commotion pulls my attention. I follow the sound and turn toward the panoramic windows.

The city lies beneath me like a living painting.

And then I see him.

Arlo stands at the centre of the room, dressed in a charcoal suit. Around him, hundreds of white tulips are threaded with deep red roses, all perfectly arranged.

Behind him, a round table holds a chilled bottle of champagne and two waiting flutes.

There’s no one else.

Just him.

I freeze. I can’t move, can’t think. He’s watching me like I’m the only thing that matters.

“Ma lune,” he says, his voice low and rough.

I take a step forward, and he closes the distance between us.

His hands reach for my coat, slipping it from my shoulders with a gentleness that makes my breath catch. He sets it aside, never once breaking my gaze.

“You’re ravishing,” he murmurs, before pressing a slow kiss to my cheek.

His hand finds mine, warm and steady, and he guides me toward the centre of the room.

Chapter 56

Ophelia

He kneels slowly, his eyes locked on mine, the intensity in them enough to steal the air from my lungs. My pulse quickens, my heart beating wildly in my chest.

Damn it. I’m too young for cardiac arrest.

He takes my hand in both of his. His voice is rough when he finally speaks.

“I’ve been a blind fool. Everything that happened, every wound, every bit of pain, it’s on me.”

I start to say something, but he gives a small shake of his head, tightening his grip on my fingers.

“I’m deeply sorry for the way I treated you. For not trusting you. For breaking what we had. I’ll spend the rest of my life earning your forgiveness, Ophelia. Every single day, I’ll prove that it’s worth it, that we are worth it.”

He pauses, drawing in a hard breath before he goes on.

“I don’t deserve you. Maybe I never have. But I’m still going to have you, because there’s no other way around it. You’re meant for me, and I’m meant for you.”

His eyes darken, that familiar fire returning.

“You come first. You always have, and you always will. I was just too blind before to see it properly. But no more. I’ll spend every day of my life showing you that you’re my only priority, that you’re all that matters.”