Chapter 23: No More Terms

We walked into the Ward house at five in the morning, and neither of us turned on a light.

Somewhere across the city the sky was going grey over a roof on Fifth Avenue.

I felt nothing about it.

Lucian shut the bedroom door behind us and stood with his back against it.

"The ring," he said.

I opened my hand.

My father's crest lay in my palm.

"I'll wear it tomorrow," I said. "Tonight I want to put it down."

I set it on the dresser and turned around.

He looked at me, and he did not hide any of it.

"I have something to say," I said.

"Now?"

"Yes. I said I'd say it when she was safe."

He did not breathe.

I crossed the room and put my good hand flat on his chest, over the scar.

"My terms," I said. "The bond is a shield. Nothing else. No feelings."

"Margo."

"No sleeping in your bed. No first names."

"I remember."

"I broke every one of them."

"I broke the first in the elevator, and I stayed in your bed the night after."

His heart was hammering under my hand.

I felt it in my own chest.

"Lucian," I said. "I love you."

His eyes went red.

He did not say anything at all.

He put his hands on my face and kissed me.

It was slow, and it shook.

"Say it again," he said against my mouth.

"I love you."

"Again."

"I love you, Lucian."

He lifted me.

He carried me to the bed and laid me down, careful of my shoulder.

He knelt on the floor at the foot.

"Lucian?"

"Let me."

He pushed my dress up to my hips.

He drew my underthings down my legs, and kissed my knee, and my inner thigh, and higher.

I knew what he meant to do, and I felt him know that I knew.

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