Page 33 of Awakened Destiny
She doesn’t say anything, but I feel her nod, just slightly, and I hold her tighter, letting the silence settle between us.
“You’re the strongest person I know,” I say, my voice rough but steady.“What you’ve been through—what you’re still carrying—most people would’ve broken under that weight. But not you. You’re still here, still fighting. That’s why I admire you. Why I.... ” I pause, swallowing hard,“why I want to be more like you.”
I hear her intake of breath as she tilts her head back to look at me and just watches me, her expression unreadable.
I reach up, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. My hand lingers, my fingers tracing the curve of her cheek before I pull back, afraid I’ve overstepped. But she shifts closer, her form against me, and I feel the tension between us shift, disappearing into something deeper.
Her fingers tighten around mine. I can feel the heat of her skin, the way her pulse quickens under my touch. It’s like the air itself has changed, charged in a way that makes it hard to breathe. I don’t know if I should step back or pull her closer, but her gaze is steady, and I know.
She’s letting me in. Not just physically, but in every way that matters.
My throat feels dry, and I don’t trust myself to speak, so I don’t. Instead, I let my actions say what words can’t. I close the distance until there is nothing between us.
For a moment, we just stand there, breathing each other in, the world fading away. I force myself not to move, to let Brigid set the pace. She’s in control here, and I won’t take that away from her.
Her lips part, like she’s about to say something, but then she stops, her eyes searching mine. I don’t know what she’s looking for, but I hope she finds it. I hope she sees the truth in my eyes—the way I feel about her, the way I’ll never stop trying to be better for her.
And then, finally, she speaks.“Lochan.”
Chapter Eighteen
Lochan
That’s all she says, just my name, but it’s enough. It’s everything.
She leans in, her body pressing into mine, and I feel the warmth of her breath against my skin. Her lips brush against mine, soft and tentative, like she’s testing the waters. I freeze for a second, my heart pounding so hard I’m sure she can hear it. Then I respond, deepening the kiss with a hunger that’s been building inside me for what feels like forever. It’s not gentle or careful, it’s desperate, like I’m trying to make up for all the time we’ve lost.
Her hands slide up my chest, grabbing for me like she’s afraid I’ll pull away. I won’t. Not this time. Not ever again. My arms wrap around her waist, pulling her closer until there’s no space left between us. She fits against me perfectly, like she was made to be there, and for the first time in weeks, I feel whole.
The world outside doesn’t exist anymore. It’s just her and me, and the fire burning between us. I can’t think, can’t breathe, can’t do anything but feel. Her lips move against mine, slow and deliberate, and I follow her lead, letting her set the pace. She’s in control here, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
When we finally break apart, both of us gasping for air, I rest my forehead against hers. My hands are still on her waist, and I can feel the rapid rise and fall of her chest.“I can wait,” I say, my voice rough.“I don’t want to push you. If you need time—”
She cuts me off, her fingers tightening on my shoulders.“I choose you, Lochan.” Her voice is steady, confident, and it sends a shiver down my spine.“This is my choice. I’m in control.”
I swallow hard, nodding because I don’t trust myself to speak. She’s giving me everything I’ve wanted, everything I’ve been too afraid to ask for. And now that I have it, I’m not letting go.
Her eyes lock onto mine, and I see the determination there, the strength that’s always drawn me to her. She’s not broken, not fragile. She’s Brigid, and she’s choosing me.
“Okay,” I whisper, my hands sliding up her back to cradle her face.“Then I’m yours.”
She smiles, a small, private smile that’s just for me, and leans in again. This time, the kiss is slower, deeper, like we’re sealing a promise. And I know, in that moment, that nothing will ever come between us again.
Her lips are soft, but her grip on my shoulders is iron. I pull back just enough to see her face—those gray eyes, dark and hungry, locked on mine. She doesn’t look away, doesn’t flinch. Good. I want her to see me, all of me, the parts I’ve tried to hide. The parts that scare even me sometimes.
My hand slides down her arm, slow at first, testing. Her skin is warm, alive under my fingers. I can feel the faint tremor in her, the way she’s holding herself back. Not anymore. I tighten my grip, dragging her to me. Her breath hitches, and I know she feels it too—the shift, the moment when control snaps and something darker takes over.
“Tell me what you want,” I growl, my voice rough.
She doesn’t answer, not with words. Her hands pull me down to her. Fuck, she’s strong. Stronger than she looks. Stronger than she knows. It’s in the way she moves, the way she meets me without hesitation. She’s not fragile, not broken. She’s fire, and I want to burn with her.
I kiss her again, harder this time, my tongue claiming hers. She moans into my mouth, the sound sending a jolt straight to my cock. My hands roam her body, tracing the curve of her hips, the swell of her ass. I squeeze hard, and she arches into me, her nails digging into my back.
“Lochan,” she breathes, her voice shaky but sure.
I don’t need more than that. I spin us around, pinning her against the wall, and I can feel her body heat through my clothes. I lift her leg, hooking it over my hip, and grind against her. She gasps, her head falling back, exposing the line of her throat. I bite down just enough to make her whimper.
“What do you want, Brigid?” I ask, my voice possessive.“Say it.”
