Page 103 of The Fate of Black Hearts

He felt her shudder at the touch of his lips on her. “I guess we do.”

“We have chemistry.” He moved the edge of her shirt away from her shoulder to kiss there.

She bit back a moan. “Yes.”

“From the moment I first saw you at the Seine, I wanted to take you with me.”

“You have issues, Dom. You like playing God and protecting me. Yet you don’t want to commit to belonging with me.” She spun in his arms to kiss along his jaw. The warmth of her lips against his skin made him twitchy to take her. It’d been so long. “Are you done punishing yourself for being manipulated when you were young and stupid? Can you also let go of the words of a witch, which you believed to the point you made them a powerful curse on your own life?”

Ouch. But true.“When I stopped being angry at my father, I committed my life to not bringing harm to the world. If I was to be the instigator of that harm through myself or a child, then I vowed to do all I could to stop it. I tried to die. You were the one who forced me out of the river.”

“Bull-fucking-shit.” She poked him in the chest and pulled away from him. “You didn’t have to swim for me that day. You could’ve let the water take you.”

“Your voice was like a siren’s. I couldn’t refuse it.”

“You can’t even say that without sounding ridiculous. That black heart of yours is selfish. You’re the damaged son of a warlord. You wanted to live.”

That hurt.“You’re probably right.”

“Of course I am. When are you going to realize I’m always right?”

“Long ago, I didn’t kill my father or her in self-defense. I obliterated them with magic out of hate.”

“I’m a vicious bitch who would’ve done the same thing if they threatened me or you or anyone I love. I get that, one hundred percent. It doesn’t change that I want to be with you,” she confirmed without hesitation.

Not knowing where he stood with Evie had made his chest hurt worse than the demon blade. Now, that pain ebbed.

“We both have broken bits. I don’t want to fix you. I want you like you are now, even with your annoying morality. Even when you’re an ass.” She glanced heavenward. “I want the real you. I don’t want the person you think you should be. You’ve made me so sad, but also incredibly happy. I can’t do this with you having one foot in the picture and one out. That’s not how this can work anymore.”

“I had my reasons until now to protect you by keeping my distance. But…are you sure it wasn’t you who didn’t want to fully commit? You were okay with our relationship being on your terms. You only wanted me there when it worked for you. Now you’ve decided you want it different?”

She sucked in air and shot him a hurt look. “Maybe so.”

He ground out, “You are the most stubborn, protective, and secretive person I know.” He pulled her into him. “Ask me what I want.”

“What do you want?” Her bright eyes bore into him.

“I want you. Just you. Only ever you.” He breathed out all the pain of everything else pullinghim away from her and closed his eyes. “I only want you, Eveline.”

She whispered, “I despise that name.”

“I know, but it’s who you are.”

“You might be right that it wasn’t only you who was half-in and half-out. I was scared to feel.” She closed her eyes and took a very deep inhale. “Ask me what I want, Domini.”

He blinked open his eyes. “What do you want?”

“Don’t ever call me that name again for starters.”

He chuckled. “Done.”

“Swear to me once more you’re done with that stupid prophesy. That you won’t hurt one of my babies. Ever.”

“I swear. I could never hurt something that was a piece of you.”

“Kiss me for real. Kiss me with your soul, which already knows it belongs to me.”

He growled when emotions flooded him. The relief. The happiness. The love. So much love.