Page 143 of My Ruthless Husband

I begin to tremble. And something wet slips down my cheek. “Damian…” I choke.

I tremble harder when he pushes off the door and strides toward me with purpose. He doesn’t stop even when he is in front of me. In a second, I’m swept off my feet as he lifts me into his strong arms effortlessly. I wrap my arms around his neck, a sob escaping as I cling to him like my life depends on it while my heeled feet dangles in air. My body molds against his chest, and I can feel his warmth enveloping me, shielding me from all the pain. The heartache I suffered.

Suddenly, I feel so spent. So drained. It feels like I’ve finally come home after a war that lasted for years—tired, but relieved that I survived. Damian’s strength is the only thing keeping me upright; without him, I’d have collapsed by now as I’m still struggling to process that he’s here, that I’m back where I belong. In his arms.

“I’ve missed you, angel,” he says roughly.

It’s so unlike him. He hardly talks about feelings. Barely expresses them. It’s so touching to hear him admit that. I smile through my tears. “I missed you too, Damian. So much. I haven’t felt alive until just now.” I tighten my arms around his neck then pull back to kiss his clean-shaven jaw but he seals his lips to mine instead.

Hot, salty tears overflow down my cheeks, only this time, they are happy ones. Every fear, every ache, every torment I’ve carried vanishes. All that remains is the need of kissing himback. And kiss him back I do. I melt against him, desperately clutching onto him, pressing into him in an attempt to become a part of him, to feel his heartbeat in sync with mine.

I love this man. He has no idea the agony I’ve endured without him, the countless moments I felt my heart shatter in his absence. How I died a thousand times in every moment I spent without him.

He gently lowers me to the floor, though he bends to keep our lips locked as if he, too, can’t bear to break away.

Head swimming, mouth tingling, I gaze up at his hard features. His jaw ticks as he wipes my tears gently. Unable to stop myself, I clasp his face in my hands and go on my tiptoe to press my quivering lips on his forehead.

His big hand cups my cheek. I turn and kiss his calloused palm and screw my eyes shut. “Take me away, Damian.” I choke. “I can’t live without you. I don’t want to.”

I cry out in surprise when he picks me up in his arms and settles down on the settee with me on his lap, looking down at me with a fierce frown. “You’ve lost weight.”

I don’t pay attention at his disapproval because I am too busy taking my fill staring up at him, running my gaze over his features. It’s like I’m memorizing him all over again. Every inch of him. It’s a wonder I survived this long without seeing him. I missed him so much. Even his scowls.

“Did you think I wouldn’t come for you?” he asks grimly.

That makes me focus. I lower my eyes. His fingers slide beneath my chin, tilting my face up toward him. “You’re mine. No one can keep me from you. Not even your father.”

I shake my head frantically. “You don’t understand, Damian. He can ruin you. He’s already begun.”

As if he didn’t hear me, he reaches down, his fingers deftly working to remove the pins from my updo. “Let him try.”

“But—” He captures my lips in a fierce kiss. Then sets me back on my feet before rising to his full height. “You need to go out there. They’ll start looking for you.”

I still, then begin shivering. “No.” I shake my head frantically. “I don’t want to go, Damian. Please, let’s just get out of here.”

“I’m not the kind to run like a coward. And neither are you,” he says, gripping my chin when tears begin to well in my eyes.

I grab his hand that was gripping my chin with both of mine desperately. “You don’t understand! They are going to announce my—”

“Engagement. I know.”

“Then why would you tell me to go back out there?”

“Do you want to marry Edward?”

“What?” I look at him stupefied and to be honest, a bit appalled.

“Do you, River?”

“No! Absolutely not!”

With his hands on my hips, he pulls me to his chest. “What about me? Do you want to marry me, angel?”

I gasp. “Are you asking?”

“Answer me.”

My cheeks heat and I stutter. “Y-you know I’m yours.”

---