Page 35 of Frost and Death
Niko glances around. “Oh, he must have left.”
When our gazes meet again, his words from earlier repeat in my mind and fracture my heart.
He sees the hurt.
“I-I need to apologize, Tee,” he states. “For what I said earlier.”
Brushing down my gown, I cross my arms and wait.
Niko relaxes before running his hands through his hair and exhaling. He comes to sit next to me, and I try to keep the hurt from my expression.
But when he reaches for my hand, selfishly, I let him take it.
I hate feeling beside myself with the hope that he truly is sorry.
He pulls my hand to his chest, resting it over his heart. “I can’t stop thinking about what you said earlier.”
It is my turn to look away. I know I said a lot of things earlier. Some were harsh, and some gutted me.
He needs to be more specific for this to be a two-way conversation.
His thumb rubs the upper side of my palm. “Tove—” He pauses, drawing my attention back and taking a long breath. “You said you wanted it to be me? What did you mean by that?”
Panic grips my heart at his question. I can’t go admitting my feelings for him now.
Damn my stupid emotions for letting my mouth run rampant.
I build a wall over my heart, trying to conceal everything as I navigate myself around the real issue of him throwing my grief in my face.
“I said a lot of things because I was upset, Niko. I am sure you can understand why,” I tell him in a clipped manner, trying to not explode on him.
Niko turns sullen, but his words revolve in circles in my mind, wanting me to keep him at a distance.
And yet my heart is pleading to stay and hear him out.
His hand twitches, and our proximity weighs in. “I know, Tee, and I am so sorry I said that. I meant to tell you—”
“Tell me what?” Anxiety and anticipation lace every word as my insides clench.
Is he going to tell me his reasoning in saying what he said?
Is he going to warn me away from Rick again?
“You don’t know?” he asks.
The softness of his voice only creates more of a puzzle.
Niko glances toward the fire, subconsciously rubbing my hand still resting on his heart.
Desperately, I want to shift closer and take his face in my hands and kiss him senseless. I would gladly push past his callousness just to have my husband be him and only him. Ineedhim.
My pulse quickens when he rests his head against mine, and Sweet Makers, Iwantthis.
Iwanthim.
His sandalwood scent soothes my anger while fueling my desire.
I bite my lip, falling deeper into the essence of him as he kisses my forehead.
