Page 41 of Branches of Betrayal

The ping of the elevator door sounded and Peyton was dragged inside the elevator. She tapped her heel against the floor, impatience and adrenaline rising.

It felt like forever before they reached the top, the soft music playing in the background finally stopping.

The smell of food wafted through the air, making Peyton’s stomach grumble in response. She was hungry, but also way too excited to be able to eat.

She was relishing in this—time for just her and Hadina, ignoring the rest of the world and pretending like their problems weren’t happening.

“Okay, stop there,” Hadina commanded, letting go of her hand. “You can take off the blindfold now.”

With eager hands, Peyton tore the blindfold off, a gasp escaping her lips once she could see.

They were standing in the middle of the Tower of America, on the very top floor. Even from where they stood, Peyton could see the skyline surrounding them, visible through the large balcony windows.

“This is fuckingbeautiful!”

Hadina grinned, slipping an arm around Peyton’s waist and bringing her closer. “A beautiful place for the most beautiful woman.”

Peyton rolled her eyes. “Hardly. But thank you.”

Hadinatsk’d, shaking her head. She brought her hand to Peyton’s cheek, cupping her gently. “I won’t have that. Youarebeautiful and that is a fact. You made me feel so much the first time I laid my eyes on you, and that’s saying something.”

“You know, I used to call you Ice Queen in my head after we first met. You seemed so cold, so sharp, that the name just stuck. But I think I was wrong. I think you’re the opposite.”

Peyton placed her hand over Hadina’s beating heart. “You have this blazing fire roaring through you, bleeding through your veins and begging for release. And to curb it, you put on this front. But then you had to go and choose me, Hadi, to be the one to unleash you. You let yourself feel, let the fire go. I needed you to, and you did. I was burning, and you let yourself burn with me.”

Tears pricked at Hadina’s eyes and Peyton pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “Thank you, Hadina. Thank you for making me feel more beautiful than I deserve, and thank you for giving me the pieces of yourself that you had locked away for so long.”

Hadina deepened the kiss, gripping Peyton’s waist tightly. When she pulled away, she had left Peyton panting.

“I would do anything for you, Peyton Dimitra. And I’ll spend my life showing you that your beauty is immeasurable, your kindness is indescribable, and that your heart is the most precious thing I could ever covet.”

They embraced again, this time with more passion and lust behind every move. Peyton craved to be owned by Hadina’s touch, her mouth, her love.

“Let’s go,” Hadina said, breaking the kiss with a sigh. “I have something planned.”

Peyton narrowed her eyes but plodded along behind Hadina, following her to the edge of the room.

“Stand right…here.” Hadina placed Peyton on the correct spot and then stood beside her. “This room spins, so that you can see the entire city from above. Isn’t it glorious?”

Words were lost on Peyton as they took in the sights. It was perhaps one of the most extraordinary things she had ever seen or done. Standing with her love, looking out across the city they called home. It made chills travel up her spine.

A young waiter guided them to a table on the revolving floor, seating them and immediately pouring them glasses of ice water.

“How did you do this?” Peyton whispered incredulously.

“I know some important people. And giving them a little extra money didn’t hurt.”

For hours, they sat at that table and just talked. Peyton knew it was a way for them to pretend they lived a normal life, doing regular jobs and being happy with the mundane. It was a fantasy they’d give into, just this once, but it wouldn’t last. They were not the kind of people to thrive under the regular circumstances everyone else did; Peyton knew that now.

“Are you ready for the next surprise?” Hadina asked, a sly smile on her face.

“This wasn’t the main surprise?”

Hadina shook her head. “Not even close.”

Reaching into her pocket, Peyton watched as Hadina brought out the blindfold she’d discarded earlier. She didn’t dispute it as Hadina stood behind her, carefully tying the material over her eyes again, her fingertips trailing down Peyton’s arms.

The whoosh of a door opening made Peyton’s knees weak, knowing that it was the balcony door as the noise of the city below filled the air around them.

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