Page 223 of Before Dawn

“Mmmm,” I sighed, sinking back into the chair, too lost in the sensation of his hands on my feet to even care about anything else.

“Better?” he asked, his fingers rubbing along the curve of my arch, his touch steady and slow. My body melted further into the chair as I struggled to form a coherent thought. All I could do was nod, but it wasn’t enough.

Then, to my shock, Mikkel pressed a soft kiss to my ankle, and my whole body went still. He continued up, placing another kiss on the curve of my calf, sending a wave of heat straight through me.

I had no words, only feelings, the kind that wrapped around my chest, leaving me breathless. “I… I like you doing that.” The words were shaky, not entirely clear. “I like you down there.”

He looked up, something unspoken flickering in his eyes. His gaze darkened, lips pressing into a tight line before he spoke, his voice making my heart race.

“All you have to do is say the word,” he murmured. “I’ll stay here, right where you want me—because you don’t just have me on my knees,amorcita169. You own me. In every way thatmatters.”

A hot flush spread across my skin, and the intensity of his words seeped into my bones.

“Mikkel,” I whispered, reaching for him instinctively. I needed him closer—needed to touch him,feel him.

Before I could reach him, his hand shot out, capturing my wrist. He guided it to his chest, and beneath my palm, I felt the steady, powerful rhythm of his heart.

“I love you.” We’ve said it before—granted, in Spanish—but this time, it felt different.More intimate.

He took a slow breath, his chest rising beneath my palm before he stood, leaving me cold. Towering over me, his gaze softened yet intense, as if memorizing the moment.

I swallowed hard, then the words spilled out. “I spent so long convincing myself I was hard to love. That no one would ever choose me, not fully. And then you came into my life, and you didn’t just love me, you showed me what love was supposed to be.” My voice trembled. “To be loved is to be loved by you, and I’ve never been happier.”

Emotion flickered in his eyes, raw and unguarded, but I wasn’t finished. “Thank you,” I whispered, my voice unsteady. “For showing me real love—not just helping me, but teaching me how to love myself.”

I looked at him, my heart full, but as I opened my mouth to continue, he reached forward, his hand gently cupping the side of my face. His thumb stroked the edge of my jaw as his lips found mine.

When we finally pulled apart, he cradled my face gently in his hands. “I’ve spent my life chasing success, building an empire, thinking that would be enough. But you—you’re the only thing I’ve ever truly needed.” His voice was thick with emotion. “Every choice I’ve made, every path I’ve walked, led me to you. You are my joy, my peace,mi todo170. In loving you, I’ve found a wholeness I never even realized I was missing, Red.”

“Te amo mucho,171” I whispered back, overwhelmed with emotion.

He looked up at me. “Te quiero, mi vida.172”

This—us—was the kind of love I had always dreamed of, and now, I was living it.

We lay in bed, tangled in cool sheets, my head resting on Mikkel’s chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. The air felt softer, more intimate as I breathed him in. In his arms, everything felt peaceful, real, and certain.

I lifted my head to look up at him. “Do you think about our future?”

His gaze softened. “Every day, Red.”

“What’s it like in your head?”

“Travel, happiness—though not without a little chaos—nights in, nights out and one day, a beautiful family.”

I leaned up and kissed him, wanting to hold onto that promise.

When we pulled apart, breathless, I whispered, “Make love to me.”

Heat flared in his eyes as he moved to kiss my neck. “Tell me what you want. You want me to eat your pussy? Say it. You want me to slowly fuck you while we hold hands? Say it. Tell me what you want, and I’ll give it to you.”

“I-I want it all.”

“Entonces te daré todo lo que quieras.173”

My body trembled at his touch, his intense gaze sending shivers through me. He admired me like art, making me feel priceless. A soft moan escaped as he kissed and licked my neck, his warm breath igniting waves of pleasure.

I reached out and ran my fingers through his hair, stroking the back of his neck while he planted kisses down my body. I felt his tongue flick across my left nipple before taking it into his mouth and sucking it.

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