Page 48 of Sweet Dominion

I moved closer, resting my head against his shoulder. “You won't break me. Love makes us stronger, not weaker. By leaning on me, you’re allowing us to share the weight of everything.”

He remained silent.

“Lei. . .” I thought about the past days. “You’ve been my strength in ways you don’t even realize. . .you’ve changed my life.”

He closed his eyes. “I don’t deserve you.”

“You deserve me just as much as I deserve you and you don’t have to do this alone.” I wiped the tear away.

He opened his eyes. “This is why I handcuffed you to me.”

I blinked, shocked that he had changed the subject to that.

“I could feel this. . .warm unwavering love coming from you. . .and while I didn’t know what it was, I had to have it next to me. . .”

I gave him a sad smile. “And now there’s no need for any handcuffs because I’m going to always be with you.”

He watched me and this strange possessiveness flickered in his gaze. Those pupils darkened, becoming intense and almost burning me with its fierceness. “But. . .I wonder. . .”

“What do you wonder?”

“Do you truly understand how I feel about you?”

I didn’t know why this nervousness hit me, but it did. Our relationship was so damn new.

I swallowed. “You care about me and. . .love me.”

“That’s correct.” His hold on my hand tightened. “But. . .forever isn’t long enough for what I feel for you.”

I parted my lips.

“Forever would never be enough.” He lifted his hand to my face and his touch was feather-light, yet electric too. Pleasure rippled through me.

The love I saw reflected in his gaze was so damn profound it was almost terrifying.

“You’ve become my strength, Moni. . .my salvation. . .”

My heart skipped.

“And I truly meant what I said earlier, I don’t deserve you—”

“Lei, don’t say that—”

“I don’t.” He slipped his fingers down my cheek. “But that doesn’t mean I would let you go. I’m just being practical as I assess the situation.”

“Well, you’re assessing it wrong.”

He lowered his hand to my chin and held it. “You pushed through the ceremony, even though you were terrified.”

I bit my lip.

“The East didn’t see it.”

“You don’t think so?”

“I don’t. All the reporters and the camera people just looked. . .captivated with you.” To my shock, angry lines etched around his eyes. “My father saw it to and said. . .”

“What did he say?”

---