Page 133 of Unforgiving Queen
REINA
The next day was New Year’s Eve.
I couldn’t have imagined a better way to end this year or start the new one. It felt like closure and the promise of a fresh start. I was curled up, basking in Amon’s scent. He wore his signature jeans and black T-shirt and I was in a pink dress that he’d picked out for me.
“I didn’t know you had a library on your yacht,” I said to my husband, pressing my face into his chest.
My husband.
The word itself seemed surreal. There were still many things we’d left unsaid, but we’d have the rest of our lives to say them.
“I keep it closed when I have guests because I also use it as my office.” My mouth formed a silent O. “It even has a dedicated romance section.”
A choked laugh escaped me as I lifted my head to meet his eyes. “Are you serious?”
He nodded. “Dead serious. There are a few books by your friend too.” A small gasp escaped me, although I was grinning widely. “Full transparency though, I haven’t read them.”
I playfully hit his chest. “Athena will die when she hears.”
Amon grinned. “How about we keep it our little secret? I have a reputation to uphold, and being a romance reader isn’t going to do me any favors.”
“You got it.” I leaned back into him, my eyes locked on the horizon. Stars glittered like diamonds in the night sky, waiting for the show as well. Amon promised fireworks at midnight. First, my mind had gone straight to sex, ready for the fireworks he always delivered in bed. But much to my dismay, those weren’t the kind he was talking about. “When will we be back on land?” I asked curiously.
“A week or two. Eager to get off the boat?” he teased.
I shook my head. “No, but it feels like we’re running from reality,” I admitted.
“We are,” he said. “But I think we deserve it after all the bullshit we went through to get here.” I let out a shaky breath. I agreed with him, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was brewing in the universe. His lips touched the top of my head and I heard him inhale deeply. “God, I missed your cinnamon scent.”
A shuddering breath vibrated in my chest. “Even after all these years?”
I felt him smile against my hair. “My three favorite things—cinnamon flavor, the color pink, and you. Not in that order. Cinnamon and the color pink should be your trademark, wife.”
“You really love calling me that, huh?”
“I fucking love it.” His words were light but his eyes were filled with longing and guilt.
Amon’s hold on me tightened as that familiar tension weaved its thread between us. We tended to steer clear of bringing up the past, but the pain lingered. We’d both suffered. We’d both gone through difficult periods.
“Where were you?” I rasped, the lump in my throat expanding. I’d done a good job burying my feelings about the pregnancy and the betrayal that came with it. “For the past three years.”
Two heartbeats passed before he answered. “For the most part, I stuck to Southeast Asia. I spent some time in the States.” He tightened his grip on my forearm. “I was… terrified to be on the same continent as you. My feelings for you were wrong and they tortured me every day, but I knew I’d cave if I ran into you.” His grip relaxed. “I blamed myself. For everything.”
I shook my head and shifted so I could meet his eyes. “It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t know.”
“But my mother did,” he spat, fury clear in his tone.
I tilted my head pensively, something nudging the back of my mind. “Your mother knew? How?”
His free hand took mine, interlacing our fingers.
“She knew about your mother.” I blinked, desperate to sort through the memories that were pushing against the front of my mind. “She should have told me right away.” The agony in his voice was unmistakable. “Your pregnancy—”
“It’s over and behind us,” I whispered, looking away from him. A light tremor rolled down my spine, his mother all but forgotten. The pain rushing through my heart was begging for release.
Amon cupped my cheeks, forcing me to look at him. “It is, but we can’t pretend it didn’t happen.” I looked into his dark eyes and gave myself over to the emotion I saw in them. “I want to make it up to you. I want to show you that hurting you was never my intention. I thought I was protecting you by pushing you away.”
I swallowed. “I know, I just…” I bit my bottom lip hard between my teeth. “It still hurts to think about it. The baby.”
