Traded for Nine Boats, I Walked In Pregnant and Ran Their House novel · Chapter 19 of 24

Chapter 19: Free

Ari's POV

I took the brown box from under the pledge room bed with one hand and kept the other fisted in Alex's collar.

"Third floor," I said.

"Ari."

"Walk."

He walked.

We climbed the last flight with the box knocking against my hip.

He held his burned hand out in front of him so that it would not brush the wall.

At his door he stopped.

"You said you could leave tonight," he said.

"I said it."

"I said yes."

"You broke the treaty," I said.

I shoved him through the door by his shirtfront and kicked it shut behind me.

"You burned my father's paper in your uncle's sink without asking me.

"You took the winter out of my hands."

"I know."

"Nobody gets to do that.

"Nobody gets to hand me my own life."

"I know," he said, and his gray eyes were wide and wet.

"I'm sorry."

"Good.

"Because I wasn't going to leave."

He went still.

"I'm staying," I said.

"Not for Pascha.

"Not for the boats, or your grandmother, or the keys."

I dropped the box on the quilt and pulled my sweater over my head.

"I'm staying because I want you, and I'm saying it first, before your hands are on me.

"Do you hear that?

"My yes comes first."

He made a rough sound.

"I hear it."

"Then take your shirt off."

He did, with both hands, and one of them was shaking.

I took the burned one in mine and turned it up.

The first two fingers were red across the pads, and the skin was tight and shiny.

I lifted them to my mouth and kissed each one, very softly.

Then I drew both fingertips between my lips and sucked, slowly, with my eyes on his face.

He swore.

I swirled my tongue over the burn, and the salt and ash of him spread across it, and his knees nearly gave.

"Does it hurt?" I asked, around his fingers.

"It's the best thing that's ever happened to me."

I let his hand go.

I pushed him backward onto the bed, and he sat, and I stood in front of him and took my leggings off.

I took everything else off.

I opened the box on the quilt, and he looked at what was in it.

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