Page 134 of Unforgiving Queen

“I shouldn’t have pushed you away.”

If I were honest, I didn’t believe he had a choice. Nothing would have prepared either one of us to face the truth about our blood relation. A baby would have made the pain that much more unbearable.

A single tear escaped, but it wasn’t only sadness like before. It was hope, healing, a promise for our future together.

“If I’d gotten on birth control like I was supposed to, it would have been one less tragedy for us to bear. We were too young. We still are.”

“You don’t want children?”

I shrugged. “Not anytime soon. I’m only twenty-one. We’re both still young. Our marriage was rushed as it is.”

“I had to lock you down before another fool tried to steal you from me,” he growled.

I chuckled at his admission. “But we don’t have to rush anymore. Let’s just start over and take it slow. Enjoy each other for a while. We have our work cut out for us with getting our families on the same page anyway.”

He nodded. “I’m sorry I failed you.”

“I’m sorry you had to live with the belief we were related.”

His forehead met mine and our breaths collided. “I watched you from afar, you know,” he murmured. “I started a surveillance company to keep tabs on you. I’d even started preparing myself for when you’d eventually move on. It ripped me up inside, but I wanted you to be happy.” He let out a sardonic breath, full of anguish. “I still fucking hated Darius and your sessions with him though.”

My brows furrowed. “But he said you hired him.”

“I did, but then the fucker decided he was your friend and wanted to be there for you. And teach you self-defense.”

“But that’s a good thing.” When he didn’t answer, I added, “Right?”

His chuckle was dark. “It is. It was. I was mostly jealous because it wasn’t me teaching you all that. He got to spend time with you while all I was allowed to do was watch you from afar.”

We’d both gone through shit and survived.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about you,” I admitted softly. “I tried. I really did. But you always came to me at night. I dreamt about our Ferris wheel ride. About the floating lanterns and the wish I made that day.”

“What was your wish?”

“To have you as mine forever,” I admitted through a smile. “And it came true.” The second the words left my lips, the fireworks exploded, startling both of us. “Happy New Year, husband.”

“Ah, my cinnamon girl. Happy New Year.” His lips found mine for a hungry kiss that made my heart overflow with emotion. “We’ll have many more together. I promise you that.”

I gently nipped his bottom lip.

“I’ll hold you to that.” He slid off the sofa and onto his knees while I stared at him wide-eyed, my lips still curved into a smile. “I hope you’re not proposing again.”

He slowly trailed his hands up my legs until he reached my knees and spread them wide. We locked eyes, the fireworks throwing off all the colors of the rainbow over his dark features.

“I’m starting our new life with a bang,” he said. Then he pressed his face against my entrance with a low groan. “I’ll die for you. I’ll kill for you. I’ll burn the world for you. Just let me taste you.” His mouth kissed my pussy, the thin material of my panties already drenched. “And never—fuckingever—leave me.”

“I won’t. At least not willingly,” I vowed. Then because I caught a glimpse of his bracelet, I added, “I didn’t throw it away, you know.” He gave me a confused look, so I clarified, “The bracelet. I didn’t throw it away.”

He pressed a soft kiss to my upper thigh. “It wouldn’t matter, because you’ll forever be my other half. Light to my darkness. Answer to all my prayers I didn’t make.”

Then he slid the material down my bare legs, discarding it carelessly. The heat of his mouth and his body washed away the past as his tongue found my core.

Maybethiswas our journey written in the stars all along. We just had to experience the pain to reach our happy ending.

* * *

Safely cocooned in Amon’s arms, I lay awake while my mind raced in a hundred different directions.