Page 159 of Promise of Darkness
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, sinking to my knees by the side of the pool. “I didn’t mean to cause so much damage. It was just—Blaedwyn was hunting us through the maze, and I knew we couldn’t escape her. It seemed our only option at the time.”
His voice roughens as he pauses by the edge of the pool. “You always were reckless. You’d never have married me if you weren’t.”
“Do you regret it?”
The words blurt from my mouth, all my lingering doubts swarming me in an instant.
He looks up sharply. “Marrying you?”
I can’t help speaking what’s been on mind ever since I discovered the truth. “All I’ve ever brought you is pain.” The words feel thick in my throat. “All I’ve ever done is hurt you.”
He speaks of punishment, and he’s right.
“Never.”
I reach for his hand, and he captures my fingers, giving them a light squeeze.
“You are my light, Vi. You’re my breath, the beating of my heart, the smile on my lips.” He brings my hand to his mouth and presses a hot, open-mouthed kiss to the palm. “You’re the beacon I use to find my way back to land when the Darkness threatens to drag me under. You keep me whole. You make me laugh. You remind me of what I am and what I want to be.”
I don’t quite understand what he’s talking about, but the words soften that lump in my throat so I can finally swallow.
“I love you, Vi. You are my everything, and despite the pain, despite the rage, there’s not a day that has passed since our marriage that I haven’t considered myself blessed by the gods for being given to you.”
The brush of his mouth stirs things low in my body, but his words are an arrow straight through the heart.
They dissolve the doubt that festers there like poison.
I wish I could tell you I love you, but I’m so afraid I’ll lose it.
I release a slow, shuddering breath. It’s more than I can handle right now. “You’re not just saying that to get me in the water with you?”
He knows me well enough to understand I’m overwhelmed. Backing off, he gives me a sinful smile. “Caught,” he says softly.
And we’re both hiding behind masks in that moment.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“So am I.”
Silence ticks away the seconds.
Hot steam envelops us, but all I can see is him. Those green eyes are dangerous, tempting me to throw caution to the wind and join him.
“Come in, fair maid.” He flicks water at me.
I rest my chin on my knees. Entering that water is akin to giving in, and we both know it. There’s no coming back from this moment, no more second-guessing myself. “Why would I? I’m enjoying the view.”
“It’s better in here.”
Oh, I’ll bet it is.
As if to tease me further, he fans his arms back and forth, splashing ripples of water against his chest. Every inch of him is perfection, and I want to touch him so badly I ache.
“You’re a dangerous man,” I tell him through narrow eyes.
Thiago smiles. “You have no idea, Princess.”
“I’m starting to.” I slip my boot off and dip my toe in the steaming waters. Sweet Maia. My eyes almost roll backwards in my head. It’s deliciously hot and tempting. Thiago’s not the only one wearing almost a week’s worth of grime.
