Page 77 of Devoted

And yes, he’d done all of this.

For me.

28

NICO

Staring down into Ember’s beautiful face, my heart split in half, waiting for rejection. This pain was indescribable, like someone scooping my beating heart out from between my ribs with their bare hands.

But…

Whatever her decision, I would obey.

Because I couldn’t do otherwise.

Emberline already owned my soul, so if she decided to take my heart with her when she left, then I would gladly let her, and this way, every part of me would always belong to her.

“My entire life, no one has ever given me so much as this, Nico.” Her dark brown eyes pulled me in, every word hooked deep. “You make me feel protected and loved and treasured. And as for your name?”

A vast stillness filled me as Emberline went up to her toes and pressed her lips against mine, tasting of lemons and life, of a future I didn’t deserve.

A chaste, gentle kiss.

A promise.

A vow.

“I don’t care about names. I don’t care where you came from.” The weight of her palm over my heart was heavier than any vow, settling deep, like she was marking my soul. “I choose you. I thank the gods for allowing me to find you in this world. And at the end, I will be grateful for whatever time we have together, whether that be weeks or months or years. Every second we share is more precious than gold.”

I staggered against her, my knees weak enough, I feared they might fail. But at the same time, warmth bloomed in my chest, a fragile hope I was afraid to embrace, lest it disappear.

No one in the world had ever said those words to me.

No one had ever looked at me with such open trust, as if I meant something.

Like I was worth something.

There had been days—most days—when I’d regretted my choice. When I’d wondered if it wouldn’t have been better to simply embrace my fate that day, so long ago.

But now, with her arms around me and hearing her speak of a future… of our future…

I’d made the right choice. No matter the cost.

“Now, kiss me because if you don’t, I’ll know I just said the wrong thing.”

“Never.” I brushed my lips across hers and paused, sinking my teeth into her bottom lip, letting her warm breath tangle with my own. “You could never say the wrong thing.”

I kissed her again and became lost, both of us moving together, my hand sliding down to the small of her back, her fingers digging into my shoulders to pull me closer. I tangled my fingers in her hair as she pressed her hips against mine, against my cock, aching to be inside her.

Every time I was around her, I lost myself to a desperation bordering on madness. All my years of training disappeared the second she touched me. I simply… starved for Emberline. For the sight of her, the sound of her voice, the smell of citrus and lavender.

Her tongue stroked along mine, urging me without words to angle my head and delve deeper. Pressing her lips apart, I pushed my thigh between her legs until her moan vibrated against my mouth and down into some hollow space inside of me.

I laid her back on the bed, the expanse of blue velvet like the sky behind her, dark hair fanned out like a halo, her hands curled into half-fists. I rucked her nightgown up to her hips, taking a moment to admire her creamy thighs, the way her flawless skin goose pimpled.

“Gods, you are just perfect,” I stroked my hand over her flat stomach, tracing her belly button with my index finger before dragging the gown higher and then higher still, revealing full breasts and dark nipples, erect and growing harder as the cool air hit them.

“I just want to make you happy.” I urged her hands over her head, stripped the nightgown off, and tossed it to the floor. “All I want is to see you smile.” I pressed a kiss to her temple, a long, sweet sigh of air escaping between her lips.