Page 91 of House of Soot

“No. Not you.”

“I can understand why you have so much hate for them. Why you lied to seek the truth. I didn’t know any of it, so your actions didn’t make sense, but now I see it. I get it.”

Does she?

“When I rethought everything, I knew I was manipulated and lied to by them. You lied to me too, but you saved my mom. You risked your own job to help her. I know I’m sheltered and easily manipulated.”

God, does she think I’m manipulating her now?

“But I see everything clearly now and realize that while I don’t like what you tried to do, I totally understand why you did it.”

“Do you forgive me? I was so horrible to you.”

“Yes. I forgive you.”

“Thank fuck.” I kiss her then, wanting to show her and tell her everything I’m feeling. I worship her body with lips and hands, drawing soft sighs and desperate moans.

“Blaise… I want you.”

Her words wrap around my heart, start mending it together again. I sink into her, joining more than our bodies. The connection feels sacred, like I’m merging my soul with hers. For the first time in my life, I feel whole.

"I love you," I breathe against her throat. "Only you. Always you."

Her fingers dig into my shoulders, but I don’t feel the pain. She's like a soothing balm. I rock in and out of her, savoring her gasps, the feel of her pussy pulsing around my dick.

“Blaise!” She arches, coming apart beneath me. I want to hold on longer, but as her body squeezes mine, I’m lost. I fly over the edge with her.

“I’m never letting go,” I whisper against her cheek.

Her arms hold me tighter. “I’m nervous.”

I lift my head, worry filling me. “About what?”

“All I’ve known is that house. That garden. When we escaped last night, I felt like I lost everything.” Her green eyes look at me with emotion. “It’s how you felt, right? After the fire.”

I nod.

“I mean it’s not quite the same. I still have my mom. But I didn’t know what I was going to do.”

I want to tell her what is going to happen next. She and her mom will live with me. As soon as she fully trusts me, we’ll get married. And we’ll spend the rest of our lives together. But something inside me tells me she’s not looking for someone to tell her the next steps in her life.

“Do you know now?” Worried about crushing her and the baby, I roll to my side, but I keep her close.

She gives a soft laugh. “Not really, but I hope it’s with you?—”

“It’s absolutely with you. And your mom. And this little person.” I rest my hand on her belly. I’m concerned about telling her the next bit, but she needs to know. “The issue with the Keans will escalate. My priority will be to keep you safe from that, so there could be some limitations to what you can do.” But already, I’m planning on buying her a fortress with a garden for her and her mother and a large playground for our child.

“As long as I have you and my mom, and the baby, I’ll have all I need.”

Relief fills my chest. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

She smiles, and it’s wide and radiant, filling me with warmth and love. “Because all I need is my family?”

“Because you have a generous and open heart and… you gave it to me when I don’t deserve it.”

Her hand presses on my cheek. “I love you.”

I close my eyes, savoring her words. Then I kiss her and vow to spend the rest of my days making up for the hurt I caused her, bringing her light and joy like she brought me, loving her with all my heart until my dying breath.

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