Page 79 of Savage Obsession

His gaze sharpens. “Of ruling?” He shakes his head. “No. The only thing I fear is losing you.”

“You won’t.” My hand slides to his jaw, feeling the tension there. “Because you’re not doing this alone.”

Aithan’s lips part, his expression darkening as if my words unlock something inside him. “No,” he says, his voice like smoke and steel. “I’m not.”

He bends his head, his lips brushing mine, a dark promise curling in the space between us.

My fingers tangle in the back of his hair as he deepens the kiss, his body pressing me back against the wall. My heart races, my breath hitching as his hands slide down my back, anchoring me to him.

“I will burn the world to protect you,” he murmurs against my mouth.

I pull back just enough to meet his gaze, my lips curling in a slow, dangerous smile.

“Then let’s rule it together.”

His gaze darkens, approval flickering there.

“Together,” he promises

33

Aithan

Three months later

The waves crash against the shoreline as I guide the boat toward the dock. The salty air is thick, humid, and charged with something I can’t quite name. Maybe it’s the weight of what I’m about to do. Maybe it’s just her. Yelena sits beside me, her raven-black hair flowing in the breeze, her electric blue eyes staring out at the vast, endless stretch of ocean.

She doesn’t know yet. Doesn’t realize that this isn’t just a getaway. That this island—this piece of untouched paradise—is ours now. That I bought it with her in mind. For us.

She glances at me, a small smile playing on her lips. “You’ve been acting strange.”

I smirk. “Strange how?”

“Like you’re hiding something.”

Smart girl.

I kill the engine, anchoring the boat. “You’ll see soon enough.”

She narrows her eyes, but I see the intrigue flicker in them. Good. I want her curious. I want her mind racing, anticipating—just like mine has been since I started planning this.

The second her bare feet touch the wooden dock, I watch the way her body shifts, how she takes in the pristine island, the untouched sand, the lush green trees. She tilts her head back, inhaling deeply.

“This place…” she breathes, eyes shining. “It’s beautiful.”

I step behind her, wrapping an arm around her waist, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. “It’s ours.”

She stills. “What?”

“This island. I bought it.” I pause, letting the words settle between us before adding, “For you.”

Her sharp intake of breath is all the confirmation I need that I made the right decision. Yelena turns in my arms, searching my face, but she doesn’t speak right away. Her lips part slightly, her fingers grip my shirt.

“You… bought a whole island?”

I shrug. “Why not?”

She exhales a shaky laugh, her fingers brushing my jaw. “You’re insane.”

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