Page 128 of Reckless Royalty

I finish washing his back and move around to face him again, tilting my head up to meet his eyes. “Feel better?”

He doesn’t answer immediately, just stares down at me, his expression unreadable. Then he reaches out, his hand cupping my cheek as his thumb brushes over my jaw.

“Yeah,” he says softly. “But not because of the shower.”

Before I can respond, he leans down, capturing my lips in a kiss that’s slow and deliberate, like he’s savoring every second. The water pours over us, the steam wrapping around us like a cocoon, and for a moment, the rest of the world fades away.

When he pulls back, his forehead rests against mine, and he sighs. “Thank you,” he murmurs.

“For what?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

“For knowing exactly what I need, even when I don’t,” he says simply, his lips brushing against my forehead.

My cheeks flush at his words, but I smile, my hands resting against his chest. “Anytime,” I say softly.

“Careful,” he teases, his smirk returning. “I might hold you to that.”

“You already do,” I reply, surprising even myself with the honesty in my tone.

His eyes darken, his grip on me tightening slightly. “Damn right, I do.”

I don’t know why, but I feel powerful knowing I’m the only one who can calm Mihai Vasile like this. And I can’t help but smile as I lead him to our bedroom later, knowing he’s going to seek comfort in me again.

EPILOGUE - MIHAI

Maddy’s lying on her side, her head propped up on her hand, those big brown eyes fixed on me. She looks so fucking peaceful, and after the chaos of the past few weeks, it calms me in a way nothing else ever has.

I’ve never felt this before. Not this quiet, not this… safe. Safe is a strange word to use, considering the shitstorm we’re all in, but that’s exactly what it is. She’s become my refuge, and I don’t know how I’m going to let her out of my sight again.

“You’re staring,” she says softly, her voice carrying that light English lilt that gets under my skin in the best way.

“Yeah,” I reply, not bothering to deny it. “Can’t help it.”

She laughs softly, and I shift closer, lying on my side so we’re face to face. My hand finds her waist, anchoring her to me.

“Thank you,” I murmur, my thumb brushing her skin just above the waistband of her shorts. “For tonight. For… everything.”

She blinks, her lips parting slightly. “You don’t have to thank me.”

“I do,” I insist. “You have no idea what it means to me. Whatyoumean to me.”

Her blush deepens, and she looks down, her fingers playing with the edge of the blanket. “You’re not bad at this whole emotional thing, you know?”

I chuckle, the sound rumbling low in my chest. “Don’t get used to it.”

She laughs again, and it’s such a beautiful fucking sound that I wish I could bottle it and keep it with me. But then her expression shifts, and I know she’s about to bring up something serious. I brace myself.

“When do we have to go back to Willow Bridge?” she asks quietly, almost like she doesn’t want to break the peace between us.

I sigh, running a hand through my damp hair. “Soon. The break’s almost over, and with everything happening…” I trail off, not wanting to lay all the shit that’s going on at her feet. “It’s not safe anywhere else.”

She hesitates, biting her lip. “I’ve been thinking… what if I didn’t go back?”

My head snaps toward her, my brows furrowing. “What?”

“I mean, I like it here,” she says, sitting up a little. “The city, the energy—it feels more like me. Willow Bridge is… I don’t know. It feels like I’m trapped sometimes.”

Her words hit a nerve, and I sit up too, turning to face her fully. “Maddy, the city isn’t safe right now. Not with everything going on. Staying here isn’t an option.”

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