Page 11 of Shattered Reign

“I made a deal with Tristan. In exchange for us not getting engaged, I needed to provide him with some information about my father because he’d heard some rumors about him. Tristan didn’t give me any clues about what the news was or how my father might be involved. I went home and found the evidence and reported it to him. Well, some of the evidence. There was a video that I had no part in finding, and I still wonder if Tristan was sitting on that already and was waiting to see what I would find.”

“Wow,” he said.

A part of me was happy that he didn’t say more. It seemed as if I wasn’t the only one who had been left speechless in the last hour.

“You brought down your father and your family’s political dynasty.”

“I wouldn’t call it a dynasty, but sure. I brought him down.” I paused and licked my lips, which had suddenly gone dry. “I know of some of the people’s lives he ruined on his way to becoming Brentson’s mayor. And when he turned on me, I knew I would do anything to prevent his plan from being enacted. I had an opportunity to flip the tables, and I did it. Tristan is also the reason why I’m here right now.”

I watched as the tension in his face lifted. He now understood why I did what I did. “He’s the reason why I’m here too.”

I tilted my head to the side. “He told you where I was?”

Easton nodded. “And called me out for not admitting to myself or you that I loved you.”

Why was this day full of surprises? “He did?”

“Yes. And he was right. I should have told you instead of keeping it to myself. I should have said something when you called me out for proposing to you to stop your engagement.”

That was a moment I really didn’t want to rehash, but I understood why it should be brought up. The proposal had been a disaster, but I couldn’t blame him because it had come about as a result of his wanting to help me. However, it wasn’t the proposal I wanted from him.

“Do you know what else I should have said?”

I shook my head. “What’s that?”

Easton took a deep breath and began. “From the moment we met, I knew there was something special about you. Not only did I know that there was something about you, I also knew there was something about us together that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. After the first evening we’d spent together, you were fiery and infuriatingly stubborn, but I enjoyed every second of it,” he said, ending it with a faint smile that lifted the corner of his lips, now forming a smirk.

“I felt the same, even when I was pissed at you for how you treated me,” I confessed. This wasn’t the time to keep my thoughts to myself.

“I’m sorry about that again. It’s not an excuse, but I was trying to find a way to make sure that Nash didn’t find out about us because I didn’t want to betray him on that deal. Apparently, my plans when I’m not thinking straight aren’t the best.”

His apology softened my stance, but I wasn’t about to let him get away with it. “It happens to the best of us.”

This time, Easton chuckled, easing the tension between us. I joined in with a small giggle, and it felt good to be laughing with him again. It was soothing and a change from how I felt over the last few days.

When the moment faded, his gaze narrowed, sobering the mood in the room. “There’s one last thing I want to know.”

The seriousness in his voice tightened the knot in my chest. “What is that?”

“I can’t lie or take back any of the things that I said, including my love for you. How do you feel about me?”

It had just dawned on me that I hadn’t said those special words back. I swallowed hard because, even though I knew how he felt, saying the words to him felt as if I was ripping the Band-Aid off and the dam was about to burst.

“Yes,” I finally said out loud. The word hung in the air as if everything in the world had stopped and was waiting with bated breath for Easton’s reaction.

Before he could say a word, I continued, giving him the exact words that he wanted to hear. “I love you, too.”

Easton exhaled slowly, and I watched as his expression softened. It was obvious to see that he was relieved. His hand found my hand, and he laced his fingers through mine. I sighed as his thumb brushed across my knuckles.

His other hand landed on my cheek and brought my face to his.

Our lips met and everything that had happened over the past few days melted away. All I could think about was how much I wanted to stay in this moment forever. His kiss was soft and gentle, and I wondered if he, too, was trying to savor every second of our embrace. He let my hand go so that he could lean into me. As if getting closer to me was a matter of life or death.

I shivered as our kiss turned more intense, his other hand landing on my cheek, anchoring my lips to his.

When he finally pulled back, both of us were left panting as we tried to catch our breaths and slow our racing hearts. I was convinced that had been the most passionate kiss we’d ever shared, and I assumed it was due to our confessions.

“You know,” Easton paused for a moment and then he said, “I want to do something special for us.”

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