Page 126 of Claimed By My Fiancé's Brother

With a clearer head, she’d remember everything I’d done to her—every harsh, demeaning word I’d said.

Maybe she didn’t want this anymore.

I held on to her hands unwaveringly. Even if Eleanor didn’t want me anymore, she was alive. That was all that mattered.

“I know I don’t deserve you, Eleanor,” I forged on, pushing past my fear. “I never have. But I promise, I’ll make it my life’s purpose to keep you happy…if you’ll have me.”

“You’re an idiot. An idiot who’s hurt me a lot,” Eleanor agreed, her lower lip wobbling slightly.

Then those stunning green eyes settled on mine, unshed tears twinkling in them.

“But I find that I’m quite partial to idiots,” she finished, a heartbreakingly beautiful smile on her lips.

My heart stopped.

“You…” I swallowed hard, unable to believe my ears. “You’ll have me?”

“Of course, I will,” Eleanor rolled her eyes as if I was being unreasonable, her signature feistiness sparking to life. “I’ll have you know I don’t sacrifice myself for just anyone.”

I laughed, tears spilling down my cheeks and a maddening joy overwhelming me as I pulled her into my arms.

Eleanor tucked her head into my chest, her hands stroking down my back as I wept.

“I love you,” I whispered over and over again, as though if I stopped speaking, this miracle would end and she’d disappear.

Eleanor nestled against me, her voice gentle and reassuring.

“I love you, too.”

EPILOGUE

ELEANOR

“Alexander,” I warned.

I should’ve gotten out of bed at least half an hour ago.

My mate yanked down the thin strap of my nightdress, the edge of his canines finding purchase on the sensitive skin between my shoulder and my neck.

My hips undulated against his before I was even aware of what I was doing.

Once, I’d thought this fiery, debilitating need for each other would be muted after we’d had enough time to satiate our desires.

I was proud to report that one year later, we weren’t any better than when we’d started off. In some ways, it was even worse because now, Alexander had mapped out every inch of me with his lips and his very talented fingers.

He knew just where to touch, to kiss, to bite, to take me from zero to a hundred without any effort.

He traced his fingers indolently up my thigh, knowing I wouldn’t say no to him, and my tiny gasps of protest were words I didn’t really mean.

Flipping the bottom of my nightdress up, he found me, wet and slick and?—

I placed my hands over his to stop his progress, swallowing hard as I tried to remember why I needed to get out of bed.

The meeting.Shit, the meeting.

“Alexander,” I began, but his lips were at my ear, his voice a low, thick rumble that made my thighs press together as he whispered my name.

“Eleanor.”

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