Page 102 of Point of No Return

I’m thoroughly exhausted by the time morning light streams in through the bedroom window. The soft blue haze reveals the mess of rumpled sheets around me, and in a perfect world, I’d lay in bed all morning and revel in this. I’d revel in watching the handsome, slumbering man laying in bed across from me.

He’s breathing softly with an arm behind his head like a pillow. I can’t help but look at him.

We crossed the line last night. We crossed it in every way possible, and god, just the thought of him over me again has my thighs clenching together.

It would be stupid to pretend like last night wasn’t amazing. Denying that it changed things wouldn’t do anything to save the careful lie I’ve been crafting since the moment we met. It’s more than attraction. Attraction would have stopped at fucking. We’d done so much more than that.

Every time he touched me, I was a shaking, whimpering mess. He’d kiss me, and the feeling of his lips was enough to have me wet and aching for him again. I took it- willingly, greedily, like I couldn’t get enough.

And just when I thought I’d taken everything he had to give, he’d pull me into him, run his hand up my back and grip my hair, and I was gone again.

We went round after round until we both collapsed against the bed. We fell asleep sometime around four, him on his side with his arm like a band around my waist. And it was all I could do not to voice that I wish this never ends.

But that’s just it. Thiswillend. It has to- before we both get too attached. The thought makes my chest ache.

Last night can never happen again.

The bedside clock tells me it will be less than an hour before he has to be up and readying for work. I climb out of bed, careful not to wake him as I wander to the closet and quickly dress in some lightweight clothing.

Despite the ache between my legs or the fact we’d been up all night, I’m still teeming with energy.

Luckily, he’s still asleep by the time I sneak downstairs. I take one of the back trails leading off of Viserion. The rocky path veers off onto the smooth main road, and for a while, I’m just walking, watching as the last few twinkling stars fade away with the night.

The sun hasn’t quite risen yet, but when the memories of last night threaten to spill out of me, I take off into a run. Feet pounding the concrete, breath heavy, face hot.

Trees pass in a blur, and I hardly feel the ground by the time my blurry vision threatens to slow me down. I slow to a jog, running until I know Viserion is miles behind me. By the time I walk back, I know Skar will be long gone.

Too much waits for me in that house. My mother is expecting a meeting, and Aleks is probably wondering why I’m not home to have breakfast together like usual. Not to mention, Josie usually goes over the monthly itinerary with me sometime during the beginning of the month. That’s bound to happen soon.

The sun bakes the ground with heat by the time the gardens are back in sight again, but I take my time going to the kitchen for a quick snack. The servants are cleaning up dishes, and both Aleks and Skar are already gone for the day.

The quiet has always grounded me. Being alone gives me time to gather my thoughts and come up with a plan, but somehow, the quiet isn’t as reassuring as it normally is. I feel on-edge. I feel panicky. And mostly, I just feel confused. Because the quiet used to make me feel safe.

Now my mind wanders to him. I think of him when I wake up, I think of him when I fall asleep, and ultimately, I haven’t thought one bit about how I’m planning to finish this.

My mother would kill me if she ever found out that I’m having doubts. One way or another, we will take the Benenatis for everything they’re worth… and then there won’t be a single thing that can stop what’s coming. So I shouldn’t be hesitating… because it won’t matter if I don’t finish this.

My mother will. But the reassurance only makes me feel worse.

I pick up my phone and dial Liv’s number before I can stop myself, and when I hear her smiling voice across the line, the anxiety in my chest feels a little further away.

“Hey. Can you meet?”

Chapter Forty-Five

Charlotte

Gulping down another glass of water, I do my best to ignore how flush my face feels. Liv is looking at me expectantly, face caught between worry and untamed curiosity. Maybe calling her up unexpectedly and demanding she meet me at my husband’s bar wasn’t the smartest idea.

Just rip the bandaid off.

“We fucked.” Liv is squealing now, and I’m lightly smacking her shoulder as everyone turns to look at us. “Hush!” I urge her, and she quiets enough that at least everyone is minding their own business now.

But her face is bright red, and she’s shaking her head with this ridiculous smile that just screams,I fucking called it.

“When? Oh my god-Where?”

I shake my head, unable to help the stupid smile on my face. I swallow a quick sip of water, talking around my glass. “Stop looking at me like that. You look positively deranged.”

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