Page 207 of Frost and Death
Both his touch and the anticipation send shivers up my spine, and I nod with trepidation.
Hands cup the sides of my face, and lips meet mine. Jerrick’s kiss thrums in my heart as he unties my mask. I let him peel it away, too busy savoring the buzz from his mouth on mine.
A cold touch of air kisses the portion of my face that was masked, but I keep my eyes closed, not wanting to open until Jerrick says so.
I smile stupidly when his lips meet my forehead.
His kisses make me want to drag his mouth back to mine.
He withdraws, speaking words so softly I can barely hear them. “Open your eyes.”
I do as he instructs, my breath catching.
43
A Wicked Thing to Do
Icover my mouth in shock. Candles adorn the marble floor, and the same patterned stone blends from the ground to ceiling, a beautiful light-blue mixed with black.
Jerrick stands a few steps away, his mask removed, and his features illuminating the room more than the hundreds of candles scattered around us. He steps to the side, and my knees almost buckle.
At the center of the room is a grand piano.
Music echoes in my mind at the beautiful notes this stunning instrument will chime. Compositions I haven’t had time to think on rush to the surface of my mind. Harmonies and melodies sprinkle together as I imagine my fingertips touching the piano keys, reveling in the acoustics of this room that will highlight each note, each song played.
I remain breathless as I approach the onyx piano, Jerrick leaning against it with his arms crossed, analyzing my every move with his gentle smile. Touching the instrument, I confirm this is not a dream.
I meet his gaze. “How? How did you—”
My husband steps close, his cologne drowning my senses as it always has. Power oozes from his stance as I take him in and all I can feel is this overwhelming confoundment.
Jerrick takes my hand, holding it to his chest as he smiles. “When you had agreed to help me, even against your will, you were kind to me. When you came down to the library every day with a scowl on your face, furious with how I left you with no options, you still showed up and were nice when I gave you no reason to be.”
My eyes dart back and forth to his as he hesitates.
“I was mean and cruel to you. And when you came down with that food tray?” He huffs a laugh.
“I knew.” He pauses. “I knew I didn’t deserve you or your kindness.”
Heat presses against my chest at the memories, reflecting on how far he and I have come. I cup his cheek, and he leans into it, kissing it.
His eyes hold mine captive as he says, “The day you did that, I knew I needed to pay you back. But then the more time I spent with you, the greater the list became.”
I smirk, understanding and feeling the same with him.
He gestures to the piano. “So, I thought this was a fair compromise.”
I look from him to the piano and my face crinkles, the kindness overwhelming and swallowing me whole. My heart is so full, but it is breaking at the same time.
I don’t deserve this man.
I don’t deserve any of this.
I’ve lied to him all these months, and now that I have the key to freeing him from his curse, he goes and does this for me?
The beauty and magnitude of the piano is one thing but Jerrick?
He is the exponential gift I never expected to receive.
