Page 89 of Seeds of Malice

"What?"

"It's your mom's loss."

I shake my head. "I wish I could believe that."

"It is," he insists and pecks me on the lips. Then he firmly declares, "I'll never leave you, Ivy. Never. Do you understand?"

My heart soars. I don't know how I got so lucky having Dax in my life, but I am.

I blink hard, and a tear rolls down my cheek.

Dax swipes at it and then kisses me like I'm his everything. The world disappears, and his promise to never leave me swirls around us.

My vulnerability gets the best of me. I retreat from the kiss, asking, "Do you mean that, Dax?"

He locks his gaze to mine, and I've never felt so many emotions. It's security. Adoration. And I even wonder if it's love.

Is it possible to love someone so early on?

Isn't this what they mean by soul mates?

He slides his hand on my face and caresses my cheekbone with his thumb, declaring, "I do, but it'll always be up to you if we're together, Ivy."

"Wh-what do you mean?"

He clenches his jaw, studying me.

My heart races. "Dax?"

He closes his eyes and then opens them. "I told you I'm not vanilla. And you're..."

"Boring," I blurt out, blinking hard at the truth.

He shakes his head. "No. Nothing of the sort. But I like what I like, baby girl. There've been a few times when I've wondered if I'm too much for you. If you'll end up hating me."

"You aren't too much for me! There's nothing about you I don't like," I claim.

He studies me.

"Dax, I mean it."

"You sure? Because I don't want to ever hurt you. And the world I'm in..."

Confused, I ask, "What about it?"

He sighs. "Ivy, I'm a Carrington. A lot goes with that. And I have more experience than you?—"

"I'll learn. I will. Whatever you want me to do with you, I will."

Darkness enters his eyes, giving me a slight chill. He steps closer, murmuring, "I don't want to change you. You're perfect as you are, gorgeous."

"I... I don't understand what you mean, then?"

"My world isn't vanilla."

"I don't want mine to be either," I declare, although I don't really know what he means.

He arches his eyebrows. "You don't?"

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