“Sweet dreams, my love.”
I closed my eyes too, hugging my man close and snuggling into him. This was the perfect moment of bliss. It was in his comforting silence and the warmth of him, that I felt the true meaning of love.
We were going to move on. We could leave the past behind and make new memories. A new beginning.
For the first time since that day, I felt like I could finally breathe without the feeling of guilt crushing my chest. Ayla had been right.
We just had to let go, to forgive and choose the path of moving on. Dwelling in the past would only hinder our future.
Sleep found me soon after and the last thought in my mind…
I loved him and I was never going to leave him. Viktor Ivanshov. My savior. My dark knight. My warrior. My Prince, tainted by blood and war. If I had to, I’d spent the rest of my life showing him how much I loved him so he’d never doubt me again.
Chapter 35
Viktor
The moment I woke up, I knew something was different. I felt it. It wasn’t like the other days since we came back from Russia. Every morning, I’d wake up with an invisible weight on my chest, pushing me down and refusing to let me up, to let me breathe normally.
But this morning felt different.
My heart kicked, and my lungs seemed to be working fine. The weight that was once there had disappeared. Warmth spread through my chest, and I looked down at my side, where Valerie was curled up against my body. She had an arm across my chest, holding me in her sleep.
She started to stir too, slowly coming awake. The room was bright with the early morning sunlight, and once she opened her eyes, the beautiful hazel orbs sparkled up at me.
I had had plenty of women in my bed before, but nothing hit me like seeing Valerie in my bed, in this state, completely sated and…happy. A timid smile brushed her lips and she blinked up at me, watching me, studying me. My arm tightened where it was wrapped around her hips.
“Good morning,” I whispered gruffly with emotions clogging my throat.
Valerie slowly sat up beside me, and the blankets bunched over her lap. When she replied sweetly, I swore my heart did that fluttering shit people would talk about. “Good morning.”
She got me high on her, and all I wanted to do was crawl inside her gentle soul and live in it for the rest of my life.
Last night, I found forgiveness in her touch.
I found redemption in her kisses.
And I found love in her eyes.
I thought I lost her. I really did. For days, I’d been preparing myself for the moment she’d tell me it was over. She’d walk away and I wouldn’t be able to stop her.
Valerie was free now, and I couldn’t trap her in this place if she didn’t want to be here. Maybe I could convince her…beg her…but I needed her to be happy.
And if she was happy without me, then it was a fact I had to learn to accept. As harsh as it was. As much as it hurt. As much as it killed me, I was preparing myself to let her go.
Except now…
Last night…
My sweet Valerie was now sitting in my bed like a fucking fantasy. No, she wasn’t just a fantasy. She was more. Unreal. So damn beautiful. Chest-punching beautiful. Her blonde hair spilled over her shoulders, the thick strands caressing her naked skin as they fell over her breasts. Her pink tight nipples peeked through, subtle enough for my imagination but not enough for me to see everything I wanted to see. The sun kissed her skin like an unspoken, enthralling ballad. When she blinked at me sleepily, but her eyes smiling nonetheless, it was another punch in my guts.
She was an image of divinity and this must be heaven.
“I’m going to take a shower.” Her voice cut through my thoughts, and I watched as she got off the bed, the sheets still wrapped around her body.
Valerie stood there for a second before she slowly let the white bedsheets unravel from her body. It slid down her pale skin sensuously, and my eyes gladly feasted on her naked body. There was a timid smile on her lips, and I caught the flashing mischief in her gaze before she turned away and shuffled to the bathroom. The door closed behind her, but I had a feeling it wasn’t locked.
I got off the bed too and went to the door, turning the knob around to see that I was right. She left it open for me, a clear invitation to join her.
And I did exactly that. How could I disappoint my woman?
Valerie was facing away from me when I joined her in the shower and closed the foggy glass doors behind me. She wiggled her body closer and let out the smallest giggle when I rubbed my hands over her slick hips and soapy arms. She had sensitive and ticklish skin.