Page 156 of When Hearts Awaken

“You’re fucking amazing, Taylor Peyton-Anderson. Breathtakingly beautiful in my eyes,” he grunts, his face flushed.

He pins my hands over my head, his dominance something I crave now. His hips move faster, snapping against me in a punishing rhythm, hitting that special spot deep inside me.

Sparks coalesce into something greater, gathering deep inside me, and soon I’m perched on the edge, ready to explode.

Charles reaches down and pinches my clit and I scream as I burst into a thousand pieces, my body thrashing as my orgasm overtakes me.

He follows me over the edge with a roar, his cock throbbing, his hot cum sweeping inside me. His mouth swallows the rest of my cries as he continues to thrust inside me, prolonging our high.

The obliterating pleasure slowly fades into a crushing warmth. We’re a mess of sweat and passion and I’m sure my makeup has melted on my face. He hoists himself above me, his blue eyes heated.

“I love you so much, minx. So damn much.” He kisses me softly.

Smiling, I trail my fingers over his angular face—drifting over his perfect nose, his strong jawline, the enticing scruff that makes me want to rub myself all over him again. This man has stood by me through everything, never wavering.

“I love you too, Charles. You wear your heart in your eyes,” I whisper, watching his eyes darken, “and now everyone can see it.”

“Because of you.” He takes my hand and places it over his heart. “This started beating when you walked into my life, and it will continue beating with you by my side.”

Charles whispers in my ear, “Reason number infinity: You make me braver. You make me a better person. You make me fall in love with the thorns of roses, shiny black feathers, and rough edges. You complete me, Tay.”

He pauses and takes a deep breath before continuing, “We’ve always been unconventional and I can’t hold it in anymore. When I saw you on the stage, I knew I couldn’t wait anymore.”

Taking my hand and kissing the back of it, he stares into my eyes and whispers, “Will you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?”

The bubbles gather in my chest—the same bubbles I felt that day at the Met Opera when I saw Odette and Prince Siegfried for the first time—but this time, they’re a hundred times more potent. Butterfly wings flap in my stomach. I feel like I’m invincible and I can fly.

My lips twitch as I take in the ridiculousness of our positions, him on top of me, still inside me, my tights ripped and chest bare.

He cocks his brow, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

The damn man can read me like a book.

“Yes,” I reply as the first giggles slip out of my mouth. “But this better not be your official proposal, Charles Vaughn, or I’d really have to kill you.”

He barks out a loud laugh and kisses me softly.

A thought occurs to me, and I frown. I bite my lip, remembering the strange letter I received in the mail earlier. “Charles, did you have something to do with an apology letter from my asshole ex that I just got this morning?”

Charles tsks loudly and shakes his head. “Mentioning your ex while I’m still inside you?” His teasing eyes drift to my lips and he murmurs, “I can’t tell you or I’d really have to kill you.” He parrots my words back to me and smirks.

Heat flows through my chest. He definitely did something to Camden and my inner petty side squeals with glee.

I clench my core and move my hips, biting back a moan as he hardens inside me again. “Youbad, relentless bastard,” I whisper before curling my legs around his back and quicken my movements, the sparks quickly fluttering inside me. “I think you deserve a present.”

He groans, his eyes darkening. “Yourrelentless bastard.” He works his hips into a maddening rhythm. He rasps, “And I don’t need presents, because I have you, and you’re priceless. But Idohave something for you.”

I arch my brow and clench around him.

Charles hisses and lets out a rough chuckle. “Not that, even though my dick is all yours. Next month. Bolshoi Theatre. Special performance ofSwan Lake. A private box just for the two of us.” He winks.

I gasp, excitement surging inside me.How did he know about my dream to see the performance there?

He laughs and crushes his lips on mine, and we don’t speak for a long time.

And so Odile, the beautiful black swan, has found a prince of her very own, and they live happily ever after.

---