Page 182 of Wolfkissed
“You have me,” I breathe. “I love you with every fiber of my being. And this family… it will be yours, too. Whether you bond to me or not, Princess. They will love you because you are so lovable.”
“I’m not lovable,” she mutters. “I’m cold and forever hiding. The Frost Princess, remember?”
“That was your defense mechanism. Your wall. You needed a helping hand to climb over it.”
“You broke down my walls,” she whispers, “smashed my defenses and carried me away.”
“I saw the real you. And what I found behind your wall was amazing.”
She looks away, cheeks reddening. “Books and embroidery?”
“The loveliest girl imaginable. The most beautiful woman in the world. The cleverest. Kindest. Bravest. Sweetest.”
“Stop.”
“Never.” I stroke her cheek, tuck a midnight-dark strand behind her delicate ear. “I’ll never stop telling you how I see you, until you believe it.”
“You make believing easy.” Her eyes shimmer. “You make life worth living.”
“Right back at you, Princess. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. Fuck, I missed you.”
“When? We’ve barely been apart.”
“One moment apart from you is too much.” I draw a shaky breath. “I’m pushing you. I won’t apologize for wanting you somuch. Tell me to stop whenever you need space. Whenever I push too hard. Promise you will.”
“You’re not pushing me, Valen. I want to be here. Did you mean it?” She swallows hard. “What you proposed… did you mean it?”
“If I meant… what? Wanting to be with you? Wanting to bond with you? So that you will be my wife and I will be your husband?”
Another tiny nod.
“I’ve never been more fucking serious about anything or anyone in my life.” Hope sparks in my chest. “Are you considering it?”
“I’d like…” A smile breaks over her face. “I’d like that.”
I grab her in my arms and spin her around. “You’d make me the happiest man in the Nine Worlds.” I finally put her down, and she laughs breathlessly. I bury my face in her sweet-smelling neck. “Don’t you want to explore my world first? Get to know my family and friends? See if you like our ways?”
“I like you,” she whispers, her voice a breath. “I love you. Anywhere you are, no matter the circumstances, that’s where I want to be.”
I want to laugh, but my throat closes up. My eyes fucking burn. “Princess… My love. This place, my family, they are everything to me. Or they used to be. You are my everything now.”
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE
ROSAMUND
“Rosamund?”
“Hm?” I feel as if I’m inside a fluffy pink cloud with birds singing. Head in the clouds, quite literally.
“Didn’t you hear a word I said?” Darian snorts. “Gods above, lady.”
“Sorry.”
“You’re in love.”
“I am.” I can’t stop smiling. “Not a crime, is it?”
“Not at all.” His gaze softens. “I’m glad you reciprocate his feelings. It’s hard when you find your fated bondmate, and she rejects you.”
