Page 65 of Broken Crown

“Mine,” I repeat one last time as I line myself up at her entrance.

My body quivers with anticipation when I press my hips forward, inch by incredible inch.She parts her lips, a noiseless gasp falling from her throat as I fill her.Once I’m fully seated, I lean forward, my fingers linking with hers.Our eyes locking, I slowly move against her, each rhythmic tilt of my hips showing her much I crave her.How much I need her.

How much I love her.

How big the depth of my love for her truly is.

And as I peer into her eyes, I see how big the depth of her love for me is, her lip quivering, eyes welling with tears.

“I know, baby,” I croon, kissing away her tears as I continue moving inside her, each thrust making me love her a little more.

Making me hate the idea of leaving her a little more.

“God, do I know.”

I tighten my hold on her hands, her body tensing around me, signaling she’s close.She whimpers, closing her eyes, but I need them open.Need to peer into them.

Need the reminder that she’s still here.

“Look at me, Esme.”

My voice isn’t demanding like it usually is when I utter those words.Instead, it’s needy.Desperate.

She returns her gaze to mine, so much love swirling in her green orbs.

“Stay with me.”

“I’m with you,” she manages to choke out.

“And I’m with you.”A small smile curves on my lips as I swallow through the emotion building in my throat.“Today.”I kiss away another tear sliding down her cheek.“Tomorrow.”I touch my lips to her other cheek, like we always do whenever we make this pledge to each other.“Always.”

“Always,” she repeats.

I move my mouth against hers, our tongues tangling as we succumb to the sensations coursing through our joined bodies.

This isn’t the first time we’ve had sex.

Hell, it’s not even the first time we’ve made love.

But it’s the first time it’s felt like this.

Like this truly could be forever.

But as we come down from our state of hyper-arousal and I hold her in my arms, that unsettled feeling returns, reminding me that everything’s about to change.

And not because we’ll have to go back to pretending we’re nothing more than mere acquaintances the second we walk out of this house.

This is something much bigger.

Something much more devastating.

All I can do is pray I’m wrong.

ChapterTwenty-Four

Creed

I stareout the window of the plane, counting down the minutes until we finally touch down in Belmont.I’ve never been so anxious to get home as I am right now.Normally, the flight from the States goes by quickly, since I usually sleep the entire time.

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