Page 73 of Poisoned Promise
“I’ll make it.”
“Caterina won’t let you go. And that’s fine because this is your life. You have far too much to give up for me. So you have to understand that if we’re to part on good terms, you have to let me go. You have to.”
“You’re talking like that’s the only option.” Felix twists his hand in mind until his palm rests against one of mine, then he threads our fingers together and pulls me close. “I can protect you, Dove.”
“You can’t,” I whisper. “Not like this.”
“I can. Don’t you remember all the promises we made to one another? That I would get enough money and power to save you from whoever your father married you off to, and then I would be there and protect you.”
“Felix, you don’t understand?—.”
“No, Dove.” Felix cuts in and there’s such pain in his voice that my heart somersaults. “You don’t understand. You’ve been alone for so long that you’ve forgotten what it’s like to lean on someone, to get help and be with someone but I’m here, okay? I’ve loved you all these years. I never stopped because losing you almost killed me and I’ve been drifting through this life in a bubble just waiting for the end. But you came back. All this time, you were still alive and now I’m here. I have the money and thepower. I can keep you safe. I can protect you. Why won’t you let me?”
The truth bubbles on the tip of my tongue. With three words, I could end this and dissolve our relationship into one last fight that would leave Felix dead on the floor.
But I can’t say it.
Because I love him too.
It swells inside me like air, increasing pressure in my chest until I’m forced to gasp and Felix lifts a hand to cup the side of my neck. His thumb runs along the length of my jaw and he gazes deep into my eyes. I’m rooted to the spot, unable to look away or even think beyond how beautiful his eyes are.
“I’m here for you now, Dove. You and me. Just like it was supposed to be. You don’t have to run. You don’t have to be scared. I’m protecting you now.”
His deep voice and the power in his words make me weak.
Every promise entices that old, scared part of me that ached to sink into the arms of the man I loved and let him take care of me.
Fifteen years of living on a knife’s edge and now Felix is offering me softness and safety.
“Please, Dove,” Felix whispers, and he leans down until our lips are a hairsbreadth apart. “Stay with me this time. Stay with me.”
I cave.
Cupping his face with both my hands, I guide him in and claim his lips with a soft, sweet kiss that ignites an immense heat, sending my heart racing and a rush of heat spiralling south.
In an instant, the kiss turns desperate.
“Okay,” I whisper. “I’ll stay.”
“Stay with me,” Felix repeats against my lips. “Just stay.”
The kiss grows heated, no longer a soft press with tender love behind it.
His desperation morphs it into something much more urgent and I’m right there with him.
Our lips press together, weaving a pattern back and forth with only small gaps for a snatch of air.
His hand slides up until his fingers rest just underneath my ear and he winds his other arm around my waist, pulling me snug against his body.
“Stay,” he gasps when we break apart longer than a millisecond. “Stay.”
“I’m here,” I gasp, sliding one hand into his hair and caressing through the strands. “I’m right here.”
His hand slides deeper into my hair just as the nape of my neck, then he grabs a fistful and pulls my head all the way back.
Felix’s lips land on my exposed throat and he kisses a path all the way down to the hollow of my neck, where his teeth graze my collarbone and send a shock of heat down through my body.
Then we spin and he shoves me against the table, sending the undrunk glasses of red wine crashing to the floor.
