“I— I know,” I said quietly.
“No, you don’t.”
His voice was cold, but he held me tightly, like he was afraid to let me go.
“The people I killed were people who were okay using children as shields, or worse, as suicide weapons.” His voice broke slightly, and I looked up to see him looking away this time, a faraway look in his eyes.
“The people I killed in war were monsters. They were people who’d rather blow up a whole village of innocents rather than let a damn laptop get taken by coalition forces. Here, with the separatists, the people I killed were those who’d rather blow up a busload of school children, or just everyday people going to work to feed their families, just because of a difference of fucking political opinions.”
His jaw tightened, his teeth flashing, and suddenly, he took a deep breath and looked back at me.
“So yes, Adele, I’ve killed. But I can promise you, the world will not miss the type of people I did.”
We were silent for a single second, before I slid my hand into his hair, craned up on my toes, and kissed him. It wasn’t a world-rocking, panty-melting type kiss this time, it was just a deep, connecting, soul-bonding, never-let-me-go kiss.
And it lasted for longer than I can even remember.
When we did pull away, I threw my arms around him.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be,” he said softly, stroking my back. “I should have told you about that part of myself.”
I bit my lip, the tension gone now as I looked up at him.
“So how did you get in here?”
He grinned. “That’s your first question?”
“Should I have another one?”
His grin turned downright hungry.
“You’re not curious about the present I gave you?”
I blushed, squeezing my legs together and feeling the naughty little warm nubs of the inserts rubbing against me.
“Maybe. I think I know what they are,” I said quietly. “I just don’t know how they— ooooh.”
My words faltered, and my eyes rolled back as the pleasure suddenly rocked through me.
“Oh my God,” I gasped, faltering, my hands clutching his tuxedo jacket as if I might fall without the support.
Damon grinned. “Surprise, baby girl.”
I panted, the vibrations teasing through my clit and against my ass, making my knees shake and instantly soaking my panties.
“You’re evil.”
He chuckled. “I know. I think you love me for it though.”
I froze.
“Adele—”
“I do love you, you know.”
I said it quietly, my heart hammering in my chest. Damon just wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close, searing kisses across my mouth.
“I love you more than I’ve ever loved anything,” he said, his voice tight.
And I knew he meant it.
This man who’d stepped out of nowhere into my life was my everything, which I why the next thought that filtered into my mind was like a twisting knife.
But I had to tell him.
“I have to tell you something.”
The grin on his face dropped. “What is it?”
I hugged him tight, burying my face in his chest before pulling away.
“There’s been a decree.”
The words felt like lead in my mouth.
“My father has officially decreed that I have to find a suitor.”
Damon growled. “Well, you’re eighteen. I suppose it was a matter of—”
“No, Damon,” my voice broke. “Tonight.”
The fire roared in his face.
“What?”
I nodded, feeling the tears start to well in my eyes. “I’m to be married by the week’s end or she’ll — I mean, my father — will find a husband for me.”
Damon’s eyes narrowed. “This is from Queen Mallory, isn’t it?”
I nodded glumly.
“She’s the one putting the pressure on, isn’t she? And it’s her threat. Am I right?”
I nodded again.
“Of course she’s behind this,” he muttered. “If only they’d—” He shook his head.
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing you need to worry about now,” he said quietly, pulling me against him.
“What are we going to do?” I said quietly,
“I’ll—” His face was grim. “I’ll think of something, I swear it.”
I could feel the tears threatening to spill down my cheeks. “Damon, I can’t find anyone else. I don’t want anyone else!”
“And no one else is going to have you,” he snarled with a low growl that got me tingling, despite the situation.
“You’re mine, baby girl,” he said lowly, pulling me tight against him. His hand dropped to my ass, cupping it and pulling me against him possessively. “Mine and only mine.”
“I’m only yours,” I whispered back, leaning up and kissing him. He responded hungrily, growling as his lips parted and his tongue found mine.
I was suddenly aware of two things. One, we were in the middle of a hallway, even if it was empty. And two, at some point, my cousins were going to miss me, even if Imogen and Isla had already gone missing from the ball themselves.
“We—”
“Someone could see us,” he nodded, finishing my sentence. “You should get back to your cousins, too, before you’re missed.”