Page 104 of Claimed By the Fae Lord

"Say it again." The order bordered on desperation. Played on repeat.

"Yours," I always replied, giving him what he needed, sensing the thread of vulnerability in his tone.

As dusk threatened to claim the sky, our passion did not wane but transformed. The fiery need became embers of intimacy, glowing steady and true.

We touched and joined in countless ways, each position a testament to our shared history, an exploration of our future. Just as we had changed, so had our needs.

Eventually, the frenzy gave way to exhaustion, and we lay there, a tangle of limbs and damp skin. My chest heaved, struggling to draw in air after the storm of our lovemaking.

Liam lifted, giving me room to breath, but keeping us joined in the most intimate of ways. The lingering traces of our sex clung to the air, a heady reminder of what had transpired between us.

He propped up his torso, hands on either side of my head, his eyes searching mine. His chest was still heaving lightly, a sheen of sweat making his skin glow in the faint light.

I waited, my body still humming from Liam's touch.

"I know I was a fucking bastard, and for that, I am so fucking sorry.”

“Liam—”

His hand covered my mouth, ignoring my attempt to speak.

“As for proposing? For wanting you to be my wife? Demanding it? For that, I’m finding I cannot apologize. It would be a lie."

I gazed up at him. Hesitantly, he removed his hand.

"Liam, you’ve never actually proposed to me. Not really.”

“And if I’d asked?”

“Do it and find out.”

A slow grin spread across his face, and he dipped his head, pressing a soft kiss to my mouth before pulling back to meet my gaze once more.

Still joined with me, he rocked his hips gently, slowly.

"Raina.” There was a small tremor in his voice I had never heard before.

"I have never stopped loving you. It terrifies me how much I love you. I tried living without you, without loving you, and it was the worst fucking idea I’ve ever had."

I lay beneath him, feeling the truth of his confession wrapping around me. It seeped into my skin and took hold of my soul.

He continued, each word laden with determination. "I've been demanding, I know that. But whatever it takes, we'll makethis work, Raina. I will wait as long as it takes for you. I want to right my wrongs, to give you everything you need and want. To be everything you need and want."

The edges of my world, which had always been so sharply defined by duty, expectation, and a fallacious need to be worthy of love, began to blur. Here was Liam, the male who had once been my everything, offering a second chance I hadn't dared to let myself believe would come to fruition.

“I’ll wait an eternity for you, if that’s what you need.”

"An eternity?" I whispered, tracing the line of his jaw with my fingertips, marveling at the stubble that prickled against my skin.

"An eternity," he confirmed.

The look he gave me was fierce and unwavering. "For you, Raina, always."

Tears spilled over, trailing down my cheeks in warm rivulets. I trembled under the weight of emotions that had been dammed up for too long.

"Raina?" Liam's voice cracked with panic, his body tensing above me.

The glowing flames of his berserker's passion flickered with sudden anxiety. "Flower? What is it?Gods, did I hurt you?"

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