Page 103 of The Library

Her brows furrowed in confusion, the anxiety palpable in her voice. “What is it?”

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. “Valen said you’re eleven weeks pregnant, Lilith. And it’s not just one baby… we’re having twins. They’re healthy. You’re all healthy.”

Her eyes widened, the tears that had been welling up finally spilling over as she gasped in disbelief. “Twins? We’re… we’re having twins?”

I nodded, my own emotions threatening to overwhelm me. “Yes. Two babies. You’re incredible, Lilith. You’ve been carrying them this whole time, and they’re strong. Just like you.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks as she let out a sob, her arms reaching up to pull me into a tight embrace. I held her close, feeling the warmth of her body against mine, her tears wetting my shoulder as I kissed her hair, whispering words of love and reassurance. But even as I comforted her, the weight of my failure burned in my chest. I hated myself for letting her get taken, for not protecting her when she needed me most. I swore, right then, that no one would ever hurt her again. No one but me—and only when she wanted it.

For a moment, it felt like everything would be okay. We were together, and we were going to have a family. But as I held her, the weight of everything she had been through settled heavily on my chest. I wanted nothing more than to lose myself in her, to claim her like I always had, to remind her how much I loved her with every touch, every kiss.

But I couldn’t. Not yet. Her body had been through too much.

I pulled back gently, my hands cradling her face as I kissed her forehead, brushing her tears away with my thumbs. “Lilith, I love you. But right now, you need to rest. You need to heal.”

Her expression shifted, confusion flickering in her eyes. “Sebastian… what’s wrong? Why are you pulling away?”

I hesitated, unsure how to explain without hurting her. “I don’t want to hurt you, Lilith. You’ve been through so much. Valen said you need time—time for your body to recover.”

For a second, she looked as though I had slapped her. Her lip trembled, and more tears spilled down her cheeks as she shook her head. “You don’t want to touch me.”

“What?” I blinked, caught off guard by her words. “No, that’s not—”

“You don’t want me anymore,” she choked out, her voice breaking as she began to cry harder, her hands clutching the sheets tightly. “Because of what happened. Because of what he did to me. I understand if—”

Her lips quivered, and a tear slipped free, trailing down her cheek. “Lilith,” I interrupted, my voice firm but filled with emotion. “That’s not true. That’s not why I haven’t touched you, baby.” Her voice broke, and I saw the torment in her face, the belief that Viktor had ruined her, that he had somehow tainted the love we shared.

My chest constricted with fury—at Viktor, at myself for not getting to her sooner, for not being able to protect her from every evil in this world. But more than anything, I hated that she thought I wouldn’t want her, thatIcouldeverstop loving her because of what that bastard had done.

“Lilith, no,” I said firmly, my voice thick with emotion. “What happened to you doesn’t change anything between us. It doesn’t change how I feel about you. It doesn’t change how much I love you. You are mine, and I will never stop wanting you.”

Her lip trembled, more tears spilling over. “But you haven’t touched me,” she whispered, her voice broken. “I thought… I thought you didn’t want me anymore. That what he did—”

I shook my head fiercely, unable to bear the pain in her voice. “The only reason I haven’t touched you is because I don’t want to hurt you, darling. Valen said you need time to heal, and I would never push you if you weren’t ready. But if you think for one second that what Viktor did makes me love you any less, you’rewrong. I love you. I’ve always loved you, and nothing, not even this, could ever take that away.”

Her breath hitched, and she gazed up at me with wide, tear-filled eyes, her hand clutching the sheets as if trying to hold onto something real, something stable. “But you won’t hurt me,” she whispered, her voice thick with need. “Sebastian, I don’t need time. I need you. The only thing that will make me feel whole again isyou.”

Her words broke me. She was giving herself to me, despite the trauma, despite the pain. She wanted me, needed me, and I couldn’t deny her. I couldn’t deny us.

“Lilith,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion as I kissed her forehead, trailing soft kisses down her cheeks, wiping away her tears with my lips. “You’re so strong. So perfect. I love you so much, baby.”

Her hand reached for me, tugging me closer, and the fire that always simmered between us ignited, the air thickening with tension and desire. Her body pressed into mine, and I felt her need, her desperation to feelusagain, to erase the fear and doubt that Viktor had tried to plant in her beautiful heart.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” I whispered against her neck, my hands sliding down her sides, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath the soft fabric of her nightgown.

“You won’t hurt me,” she said, her voice trembling but certain. “Please, Sebastian. I need you.”

I kissed her, softly at first, my lips brushing hers with the kind of gentleness I didn’t think I was capable of. But then, the hunger took over. The raw, primal need to claim her, to remind her that she was mine and always would be. My kisses became harder, more desperate, and she responded with a soft moan, her body arching into mine.

“I love you,” I whispered again, the words spilling out between kisses as I slid my hands under her nightgown, lifting itover her head. I needed to feel her skin, needed to make sure she wasreal, that she was here with me.

The nightgown fell away, and I pressed my body against hers, my lips trailing down her neck, her collarbone, her breasts, before sucking her nipple into my mouth and quickly biting on it before tracing my tongue over it. Her breath hitched, and I could feel her pulse quicken beneath my lips. I wanted to take my time, to worship every inch of her body, but the need to be inside her, to claim her fully, was overwhelming.

“Sebastian,” she moaned, her hands tangling in my hair, pulling me closer. “I need you. Now.”

I groaned, feeling my cock harden at her words, at the way she responded to my touch. I slid my hand between her legs, feeling how wet her cunt was, and my body nearly shook with the intensity of my desire.

“You’re so wet for me,” I whispered, my voice rough with lust as I teased her, rubbing her clit in slow, deliberate circles. “You want me to fuck you, don’t you, baby?”

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