Page 79 of The Truth Serum
He squeezed her hand. Abruptly. Not enough to hurt, but it surprised her. She jolted back to look at him, and he immediately dropped her hand, his face ashen.
“Sorry. So sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
She gaped at him. “You didn’t.” Did he think she was as delicate as that? “It was a squeeze.”
“You cannot accept anything like that. Not the tiniest pinch. Not the smallest slap.”
“I won’t break. I haven’t.”
“Becca,” he said softly. “God, I am so sorry.”
“For what?”
“I didn’t know. For not knowing.” He touched her face, his hand cupping her cheek. “No more. You will not be frightened anymore.”
“Really?” she drawled. “The world is frightening. Walking down the street can be frightening. How can you protect anyone from that?”
He didn’t have an answer. At least she thought he didn’t. Until his eyes grew moist. He drew her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her fingers.
“You will always be safe with me. I can promise that. Here, in my presence, in my arms. You will always be safe.”
She didn’t think that was a big promise. Honestly, she’d heard it lots of times.Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you’re safe.In fact, Fletcher often said it.
But Nate meant it. Nate had never hurt her. He’d gone ashen when he’d just squeezed her hand. She really would always be safe with him.
The moment she understood that, everything inside her crumpled. All of her reserve, all of her doubts, and all of her strength… disappeared. They fell into him, or around him, or somewhere she couldn’t name. In that moment, he became part of her.Hebecamewe. For better or worse, richer or poorer, for the rest of her life.
Shewas now awe. With him. And it felt so right.
She kissed him. She pressed her lips to his, opening his mouth and pushing her tongue in. She felt his reaction, the surprise and the welcome. And then, he met her and dueled with her.
And typical to the annoying man, he gently gripped her arms and pushed her back.
“Becca. I am not here for that.”
Frustrating man. She was beginning to think he didn’t want her.
“Do you know,” she said, “I have done all that I was told for the last ten years. I have kept my brother’s house, been handmaiden and doctor to my mother, and served my village as the face of my family. Tonight, before I return to appeasing Fletcher, I would like to have one thing for myself. One night. With you.”
His eyes looked anguished as need gripped him.
“Don’t go back tomorrow. Stay safe. Ras will protect you.”
“And then who will distract the baron?”
He looked tortured by the question. He had no clear answer. She saw that in his face, and she smiled.
“I am my own woman,” she said. “I make my own choices. And tonight, you are my choice.”
He swallowed. “I won’t take your virginity. I won’t take away your ability to marry.”
He already had. How could she marry anyone else but him, now that they were one? But she didn’t say that. Instead, she leaned in for another kiss.
“Becca,” he whispered. “Are you sure?”
She’d never been so sure of anything in her life. At sixteen, she had questioned, even as she said yes. Tonight, she wanted to feel safe. And she wanted to feel alive.
“Yes,” she said as she pulled apart the ribbon that tied her shift. Then she kissed him again. He supported her weight, his hands on her shoulders, both keeping her close and keeping her from descending further into his kiss. And when she lifted away from him, she smiled.
