Page 54 of Reigning
Silence settles in his place.
Rime looks up at me with a hesitant gaze. His attention drifts from the burning ember to me and then back again.
He’s…nervous.
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen this fearless man nervous a single time since we met.
“What if my ember doesn’t light?” he finally says.
He shifts, but my fingers skim over his, halting his movements in an instant. I lean into the glass, feeling its warmth and holding his gaze the entire time.
“I promise to always remind you that you are wanted. Loved and completely fucking perfect,” I whisper into the space between us.
His lips lift at one corner, but he bites back the smile, pushing out a slow exhale before coming closer, letting his breath fan across my lips.
“I promise to love all the terrible parts of you.” My brows lift at that strange—slightly insulting— promise, but he keeps going, “I promise to love all the bad as much as the good because your bad parts are just like mine. We’re the same,” he says in the quietest voice.
My throat tightens, and before I can even speak again, the smallest ember ignites. It’s separate from the first, but both burn equally as bright.
Rime pulls the jar away from me entirely. His lips slam to mine so hard I gasp against his mouth. His tongue slides, demanding my kiss and consuming every piece of me. He pulls back, his lips still brushing mine over and over again.
“It lit up.” His eyes close, a smile on his lips that’s only growing by the second.
“Of course it did.” I bring his mouth back to mine, and his fingers dig into my hip as he kisses me once more.
The way he looks at me when he steps back, the way he holds his gaze on me, it’s like he’s seeing me differently now, but I don’t know why. He takes another step back. Another and another until he passes the container over to Kain.
Kain’s feet never move. He stands there holding the burning jar, letting it light up his crimson hair and the depths of his green eyes. He passes his attention over every part of me. I can’t help but wonder if I look as confident and ready as he does right now.
Incredibly fucking doubtful.
Kain seems like he knows exactly what he wants to promise me. Whereas, I don’t have a clue what words even are right now.
I can’t seem to think tonight. All of this is happening so fast, and my heart’s hammering a mile a minute, and I can’t breathe or think or speak.
Shit, he’s coming over here.
I force myself to take a semi-steady breath.
“You look like you’re about to make a run for it, Arlow.”
“No.” That simple word cracks, and I roll my eyes at myself. When I peer up at him, at the calmness in his gaze, all that anxiety washes away. “I’m done running.”
A smile tugs at my lips, and when he takes my hands and wraps them around the warmth of the container, I feel grounded by the strength of his hands.
Everything will always be all right as long as he’s here.
Always.
“I promise to take care of you. To give you everything you deserve in life. This house, this house is nothing compared to all the things I want to give you, Arlow.” His fingers stroke slowly back and forth against mine.
What he doesn’t realize is, he’s already given me more than I deserve.
“I promise to try to be as much as you seem to always think I’m worth.” And more.
I’m about to give him more right now.
I focus hard on the magic Aggie and I’ve practiced for the past several months. I cling to that powerful energy, wrapping it up and holding it tightly in my hands before releasing every bit of it into his.
