Page 108 of Destined Lovers

His eyes are cast down as he rubs his strong hands up and down my thighs.

He’s pensive.

Which is not unlike him. Declan doesn’t react. He’s too thoughtful.

“I’m not sure I would have done anything differently.” He whispers, his head still hung low.

“With what?”

“I thought about your situation a lot today and how I would have handled it.” He pauses and lifts his head. His eyes rise to mine.

“If I were put in your situation and truly thought I was saving you and my loved ones, I would have done the same thing. But it doesn’t mean I’m not still hurt.”

“I know,” I mumble.

“I think it was harder this time because it wasn’t just me involved. Maeve and Agnes were hurting, too, so the trifecta of emotions had me thrown for a loop. There were days when I wanted to hate you for putting us through this.”

I gulp down my emotions so he can finish.

“I can only imagine the hurt and pain you went through after your parent’s death. I couldn’t sleep thinking of them last night, and because of that, it’s made it easier to forgive you. If anything ever happens to you again, I hope you’ll believe in me to help and protect you.”

I roll my lips.Don’t cry.

This is the moment I’ve been waiting for, for the last eleven years.

Acceptance. Forgiveness.

He’s sticking by my side, and he’ll be here to get me through the worst of it.

He smiles softly and cups my cheek. I lean into his touch, happy to have the connection.

Declan moves in, and his lips caress mine. It’s soft and loving. Exactly what I need from him right now.

I run my hands through his hair as he deepens the kiss. If this is all we did tonight, I would be happy. To have this connection with him again is a gift.

Naturally, our bodies rock together, and his grip on my hips tightens.

But before we get into this deeper, I lean over and flip the switch so a low light illuminates the room. I lift my shirt. It’s time he sees how ready I am to start our life together.

He doesn’t see it at first, but he gasps when I move my arm.

“Hanora,” he mutters, and I sit unnaturally still until I see his reaction.

It’s not across my heart like his, it’s just next to it, where my arm covers my side. The former part of our promise is tattooed in his handwriting. “From the land and sea to the stars in the sky…”

“A stór mo chroí,” he whispers—treasure of his heart.

He’s said it once before, and now it is just as meaningful. We’ve hit a turning point.

I can feel it deep in my bones.

“Come here, angel.”

“I’m here, Declan, and you’re here.” I place his hand over my heart so he knows how much today means to me. How much I needed his forgiveness.

I see the tears well up in his eyes before he leans in for one of the most passionate kisses we’ve ever had.

Yesterday and today have been tough for both of us, but we’re Declan and Nora. We can survive anything that’s put in our path.

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