Page 93 of The Dark Before Light

I swallow past my dry throat, nodding. “Good.”

He stares at me for several moments. “I shouldn’t be surprised, but here I am, my mind once again blown.”

I laugh, a soundless burst of air. “You’re surprised I’m not freaking out? Oh, believe me, I am.”

Just not for the reason you think.

His gaze sharpens. Pierces. He sees too much. Hears what I can’t say. Heat rolls through me. Unable to hold his gaze, I look down.

The next seconds are a blur as he pins me to the mattress. His forearms caging my head, he kicks my legs apart and settles his weight. His eyes hold mine from inches away.

“Don’t hide from me ever again, mo ghrá,” he whispers. “Tell me.”

I gasp for air. For words. Courage.

“Please.”

His voice cracks—I crack with it.

“I’m freaked out because I’m not freaked out!” My voice is too loud, fraught with agitation. “The idea of giving up everything for you—my whole life—doesn’t seem nearly as insane as it should. What if you change your mind, Kieran? What if you wake up one day and realize I’m not as fascinating as you think I am, or you really do prefer petite blondes? I’ve already given you more than I’ve given anyone!”

“I know,” he whispers, gaze tender as it roams my flushed cheeks, my tearing eyes.

“That’s just it—you don’t know. I’m a Domme, goddammit. Do you have any idea what it means that I went to my knees for you? That I let you fuck my ass? That you’re pinning me like this and I haven’t scratched your eyes out? I have one submissive bone in my body. One! Out of two hundred and six!”

He bites his lower lip so hard it turns white.

I sag back to the bed, the fight draining out of me. “You’re laughing. Unbelievable. I hate you right now.”

A crooked grin spreads on his face. “No, you don’t. What we feel for each other is the furthest from hate you can get.”

I freeze. He chuckles and kisses my nose, then rolls away and climbs off the bed. His hand extends toward me. My brain still half-melted by his pronouncement, I scoot toward him and let him draw me to my feet. A finger under my chin lifts my face for his kiss—soft, almost chaste, a tingling exchange of heat and breath.

“You’re perfect,” he whispers. “Every molecule. All two hundred and six bones. You are and will always be a miracle to me.”

He strokes my cheek before taking a deliberate step back. When I register the intent in his eyes, goose bumps explode across my skin. My fingers clench. My heart stampedes.

I gasp his name.

“I’m yours, Talia. All of me.”

With smooth grace, he lowers to his knees before me and bows his head.

Chapter 27

Kieran

Iwrench open Talia’s front door and glare at Gabe. As much as I like the guy, right now I want to choke the life out of him.

“You have the worst fucking timing.”

He grimaces. “Sorry, boss. Sven insisted.”

Seconds—fucking seconds after my knees hit the carpet, my phone started blaring with the distinctive alarm only a code from my security team can trigger.

“This had better be good.”

Talia steps up beside me. My arm curves around her waist, drawing her close. Her hand settles on my lower back. For a second, her nails press into my skin.

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