“I’m sorry I haven’t been around to remind you just how beautiful and amazing you are. It’s due time I make up for that,” he adds.
My heart races against my chest. He runs a thumb over my bottom lip and I squeeze my legs together under the table as nonchalant as possible. If he knew how tempted I am to tear off that white shirt and feel his bare flesh against my own, he’d have me naked and on the table in a flash.
“You deserve every bit of doting I can give. Every day. For all the days. If you will let me, I will love you harder than ever. Make the life for you, you’ve always dreamed of, and never fail you again. I can promise you that,” he adds, breathless. My own hunger is reflected in those hazel eyes of his and I have to swallow again. He’s breaking through the walls I meticulously built, one by one—like a wrecking ball.
I’m so unaccustomed to the attention after his absence for so long. Even before his sentencing, he had been here but never really here. The absence was a long growing void that only deepened while he was away. But the chasm is quickly filling with each tender word and loving devotion pouring out from this man before me.
“I will be here, by your side. I will dedicate my life to being better for this family—something long overdue.” He looks off for a moment, eyes boring into the bookshelves behind us. “I will protect this family at all costs,” he says, voice firm and certain.
I shiver under his touch and ferocity of his claims. I’ve never wanted this man more than I do now as he stakes his claim over what is rightfully his and always has been—despite court documents attesting the fact.
“Aksel,” I try, but he stops me with a raised finger.
“You don’t have to say anything right now. Just know that I am here.” He points to his chest, and then me. “I am yours.” He takes my hands in his, kissing them gently. “And please understand that I have never regretted anything more than I have regretted not being here for you these last few years. I lost so much time playing the game, being absent and dedicated to my work, that I lost immeasurable time to be doing what’s really important—loving you. Loving you completely. But, I plan to make up for it. You just wait. I will protect this family.”
With that, my mad king turns to walk out the door as ferocious as he entered and my hands and body are left wanting.
“Stop,” I call out.
He freezes in the doorway.
I could care less about media and tabloids or playing it safe. This man is my heart and home and I’m not about to turn him away anymore. Yes, he’s different. No, I do not trust him, just yet. But, I am willing to try.
Chapter Seven—Mads
I’ve gotta go sweetie, but I guess it can wait just a few more minutes. I know if I turn around now, it will all be over. I won’t be able to stop myself and go do what must be done. It doesn’t help that she is wearing one of her sensible pleated skirts that accents her long, slender legs or that I can barely make out the hint of a lace bra under her burgundy button up. If I look at her now, I’ll tear that skirt off of her and show her the love she’s been withheld for so long.
Mykaella’s cool hand touches my forearm, I can feel her heat behind me—beckoning me. I take a deep breath and turn to face her. That hungry look in her crystal blues—the one that can turn me to mush is there. She leads us out of the study that’s connected to our bedroom—her bedroom. Just glancing around the surface, it’s almost as if my existence was written out of the room, except for one of my favorite hats resting by her makeup vanity. I smile at that.
She stops us beside the bed and it takes every ounce of self-control for me to not scoop her up and ravage her then and there. She’s looking up at me and my eyes travel to her mouth and down. When her lips meet mine, I’m shocked, thrilled, and so turned on I know she can feel me pressing against her. Okay, just a few minutes of this, then you have to go.
“Mads,” she whispers against my cheek as I trail kisses down her neck, and I grin again—excited to hear my nickname. I know I’m in serious shit when she calls me Aksel, but Mads means she is warmed up to me again. I pull back and give her my best grin, the look that always gets her and her face lights up as she laughs the way she used to. A soft splash of color fills her cheeks and she moves in.