“I’m scared,”Iadmit.
It’s only part of the truth.I’mscared of this place.Scaredof the demon watching us.Scaredof what might happen if we go too far.
But more than that,I’mscared he’ll pull away again.Thathe’ll stop.Thathe won’t be able to give me whatIneed without taking things too far.
Theron must be feeling the same way because his jaw tightens and he shifts slightly beside me, his hands curling into fists on his thighs.
“I know, baby,” he says quietly.Hisvoice is rough, like he’s forcing the words out past something lodged in his chest.
I take a shaky breath.
“I don’t like him watching,”Isay, glancing briefly atSalazarbefore looking back atTheron.
The demon only smiles faintly, as though my discomfort amuses him.
“But…”Ihesitate, my fingers twisting together again as heat floods through me, stronger than ever.Thewords feel embarrassing…humiliating.AndyetIcan’t keep them in.“ButIneedthis,”Iwhisper.
My cheeks burn, butIdon’t look away this time.
“I feel so…empty,”Iadmit, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to steady it.“Likethere’s something missing inside me andIcan’t fix it on my own.Itried—Itried so many times, but it’s not enough.”
The confession hangs in the air between us, heavy and raw andTheron’seyes darken further, something flickering there that sends a shiver through my whole body.
“Baby…” he starts, his voice low and strained.“Ijust don’t know if this is a good idea.”
“I trust you,”Isay quickly, before he can go on—before he can pull away again like he did last night.
After all, that’s the truth that matters most.Morethan my fear or embarrassment—more than anything.He’snever hurt me andItrust him not to now.
“I trust you,”Irepeat, more firmly this time.“Evenif you don’t trust yourself.”
For a moment, he just stares at me—really stares.It’sas though he’s searching my face for something—doubt, maybe, or fear—some reason to stop.
ButIdon’t look away—Ican’t.Notwhen everything in me is reaching for him—begging for his touch, needing his big, muscular body against mine.
The silence stretches between us, thick and charged, broken only by the soft crackle of the fire.Then, slowly, he exhales and something in his posture shifts.
His hand lifts, hovering for just a second as though he’s still deciding…still fighting himself.Thenhe reaches for me.
His fingers brush mine—just a light touch, barely there, but even that small contact sends a jolt through me.
My breath catches sharply, andIlean towards him without thinking, my body responding instinctively, desperately.
Theron’s jaw tightens again, but this time he doesn’t pull away.
“Elowen…” he murmurs, my name rough on his lips.“Baby…”
“I know,”Iwhisper back, even thoughI’mnot sure whatI’manswering.AllIknow is thatIcan’t bear the distance between us anymore.Andfor the first time since last night—he isn’t stepping away.
He’s still holding back—Ican feel it in the tension of his body, in the careful way he touches me as thoughImight break.
But he’s here with me and that’s enough…
For now.
53
ELOWEN