Page 379 of Once Upon a Fable

A twig cracked behind me, wrenching Gemma’s stare to something over my shoulder.

She shook her head just once before focusing back on me.

I went to look behind me, my skin prickling with awareness. I was being watched. We both were. I didn’t want an audience when I’d chosen to be vulnerable.

Was Jareth still here? Or had he left after punching me in the head?

If he didn’t go, he needed to leave before this next part. And if it wasn’t him, then fuck, I had a new enemy in which to fight.

However, Gem guided my attention back to her, and the depth in her eyes undid me.

All thoughts of violence, hate, and anger evaporated.

I was left swimming in remorse, guilt, and the undeniable revelation that if any part of me wasn’t in love with this woman, that part no longer existed.

I belonged to her.

I was no longer a slave.

I was no longer owned by anyone but this incredible girl who just kept on forgiving me when I didn’t deserve it.

And I couldn’t do it anymore.

I dug my fingers into her cheeks. I grazed my lips over hers. And I said three terrifying words. Words that I would die by, live by, do my best to survive by.

Because she’d chosen me.

Fate had chosen her for me.

And I would finally start trying to deserve her instead of letting my past destroy her.

“I love you.” I kissed her, inhaling her scent of papaya and woodsmoke, interlaced with sharpness from the forest and earthiness from the grave. “That was the second thing I realized last night and the main reason I ran. I love you, Gem.” I kissed her again, chaste and soft, my heart pounding against my ribs. “I think I fell for you the moment you found me. I’ve just been too shit-terrified to admit it.”

She gasped in my hold, her mouth parting as I kissed her a third time.

Salt laced our kiss from her tears.

Letting her cheeks go, I pushed her backward, insanely grateful when she didn’t fight me.

Lust roared through my veins. All the need from last night. All the pent-up desire, possessiveness, and fear when I’d seen Jareth holding her in the dark overflowed.

I couldn’t catch a proper breath as I lay over her, pressing her onto her back and settling between her legs. Our lips connected again, dancing over each other, our tongues touching almost shyly.

All the darker urges to possess and claim faded away. I’d hurt her again. I wasdonehurting her. From now on, I would only touch her with the gentleness she deserved.

Her head raised off the grass as she kissed me deeper, sending a tangle of heat between my legs. I hardened. I wanted.

I opened my mouth wider for her, sinking into the kiss but refusing to let her push me into places I couldn’t control.

I kept most of my weight on my elbows, either side of her body. I kept my touch soft and loving. For the first time in my life, I didn’t want to rush sex. I didn’t want to get it over with to avoid pain. I didn’t want to finish to prove I was in command. I was free of that shit and lost in the moment with her.

Just her.

Gemma in my arms, her taste on my tongue, her body pinned beneath mine.

I didn’t need to dominate to be free of my own wounds. I didn’t needto hurt her to fulfill a sick revenge. I was free. Free to enjoy every fleeting touch, every gasp, every lick.

“Kas...” She tried to pull me closer. “I need you.”