Page 37 of Secrets & Curses of Fate

“There is nothing else, Della. I am just feeling off today, but tomorrow will be a wonderful day. I promise.”

I wished he'd tell me, but I didn't push it.

“Then let’s go to bed so we can get to the wonderful day sooner.” I smiled when he leaned forward and kissed me softly as he stood, holding me to him. I wrapped my arms and legstightly around him. As he carried us to the bed in the living space. I hoped he felt better tomorrow because I did not like seeing him so sad.

?????????

Haden was gone when I woke up. I felt his side of the bed, and it was cold. Frowning, I sat up, holding the blanket to my naked chest. Stars, I needed to go home today and get some new clothes. I had not been home in a week, except for a brief meeting with Mikel yesterday. He just assumed I was hanging out with Penelope, and I didn’t correct him. I could not leave Haden for a long time without missing him.

“Haden?” I called out. He didn’t answer. I slipped out of bed and tugged on his tunic from last night. I went to the kitchen thinking he would be waiting for me, but he wasn’t there either. Terror gripped me after I remembered how upset he had been last night. Did he leave without telling me? I was about to turn around when a note on the counter caught my attention. I smiled at the small bundle of wildflowers sitting next to it.

Storm,

Sorry to leave you waking up to an empty bed, but it's for a good reason. Come find me at the pond.

- Haden

I smiled and hurried out of the house. Haden’s tall silhouette was standing at the water's edge. He must have heard me walking up because he turned and smiled at me. I paused when I saw how nice his outfit was. I glanced down at my bare legs, and Haden’s gaze moved too. He smiled brightly.

“Should I change?” I asked before looking around. “Why are you dressed so nicely?”

Haden’s eyes filled with amusement.

“Did you not notice?”

I turned and looked at everything around us. Nothing looked different. I glanced back at him and shook my head. Haden chuckled softly as he dragged his hands down his face.

“Come over here, Storm.” He reached out to me. I walked up to him, and he brought up my hand and kissed the back of it. I didn’t move. I stopped breathing. My eyes flickered up to his before moving back down to the ring on my finger. This has been on my finger this whole time?

“Haden…”

My heart was pounding as nervousness and excitement coursed through me. Tears pricked the backs of my eyes as I stared at him.

He fell to his knee in front of me.

“Ardella, you are the love of my life—no, the love of my existence. I meant it when I said I was all in. I do not want to wait for what others may deem as an appropriate time to start our beginning together. I know that if it is a day, a year, or a century, I will still be in love with you. I have pictured a future with you, and I am desperate to live in that reality. In you I have found love, but I also found the soul that completes mine, the voice that calms my heart, and a friend I used to dream about finding. You are everything.

“I promise to love you, to protect you, and to always comfort you. My heart, my soul, my everything is yours as long as you promise to marry me. I am desperate to be yours, to belong to you. My love for you knows no bounds. Please do me the honor of becoming my wife, Della."

I stared at the small silver band with the prettiest red stones and diamonds decorating it. It almost seemed to glow. Haden's nervous dark eyes watched me. I nodded as the words wouldn't come out yet.

“Yes, a million times yes. I will choose you in this lifetime and any that follow.”

Haden sighed like he was worried I would say no. This was it. This was the happiest moment I had ever had in my existence. This was everything that I waited for. An overwhelming wave of love slammed into me as I stared at him. I leaned down and pressed my mouth to his.

Suddenly, Haden yanked me down and laid me beneath him. His movements were frantic as he tugged his tunic off and reached for mine. He moaned softly when he saw I was naked under it. His hand skimmed down my stomach, making me sigh with anticipation. He leaned down, trailing kisses from below my breasts, down my stomach, and the insides of my thighs. Haden grabbed my legs and spread them apart, wasting no time devouring me.

“Fuck,” I moaned into the sky.

My hands dragged through his hair, pulling on it slightly. Haden’s tongue circled my clit as he plunged two fingers deep within me. My hips rolled against him, and he sucked me into his mouth. Before I knew it, I was at the pinnacle of pleasure, ready to fall over the edge. Fuck, he knew how to use his mouth. My greedy hips rolled into his mouth.

“Haden, I’m going to cum.”

He hummed against me before withdrawing his fingers and using his perfect fucking mouth to drive me crazy. I leaned up so I could see him. Haden’s stormy eyes looked up at me as he consumed me. His eyes darkened as I watched him closely.

“Oh, my gods,” I breathed. Haden’s gaze did not leave mine as I came apart in his mouth. After a moment, my trembling passed, and he gave me one last, slow lick before he slowly crawled up my body, his mouth trailing kisses. He smiled when I reached down to his trousers and undid them, yanking them down just enough to free him.

“I need you inside of me now,” I demanded.

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