Kane shed his weaponry, strategically placing several items throughout the suite before taking off his boots. Crossing the room back to me, he untucked his tunic before pushing my hair back.
His fingers trailed my cheek. “How are you feeling, little one?”
My eyes closed at his touch, its soothing element rushed through me, causing me to sigh. “I am not bad. I barely feel any discomfort actually. Indrell is an amazing healer.”
“I’m glad to hear.” He toyed with the strap of my dress under my shrug. “Do you need more rest? I am sure what you have been through has taken a toll on you. Whatever I can do for you… sleep, food, beverage, a hot bath? It is yours.”
My hands went to his chest. I breathed him in, loving the closeness I had been lacking for far too long. “I need to know that you are fine. You fought for me... against a small army.”
“I have fought in wars with far greater numbers.” His words came out as if he was distracted.
“But.” I let my hands slide down to his abdomen. “I don’t know.” As much as I wanted to rip his clothes from him, I stopped and looked up at him. My hand went to his, holding it in place so he couldn’t distract me any more with his touch. “Kane. I don’t know all of your past or how simple or complicated your life was before I came. But I do know that ever since I arrived on Naelyra, I’ve been the cause of one problem after another. And now, you’re putting your life in jeopardy because of me.”
“Because of all of us.” His free hand went to my stomach as he corrected me.
That same strong set of fingers moved and started plucking the strings and buttons that ran down the front of my dress free. Sliding his captured hand out from under mine, he untied the bow at the top of my neckline between my breasts, pushing both sides of the fabric aside, revealing the thin, lace edged material beneath it.
The words I spoke next were meant to come out stronger… bolder. But they ended up carried on the edge of a raspy breath. “I don’t want to see you get hurt over me.”
“Auri…” His lips found their way to the delicate flesh of my neck just below my hairline. “I do not exist without you anymore. I have no choice but to fight anyone that may try to take you from me, even if it means to fight for you with you.” He pulled back slightly. “Unless you do not love me as I love you.”
“I do.” The words slipped out before I even knew that I wanted to respond, let alone how.
Bliss smoothed any lines of concern that had just been on his face. His hands tucked under the bodice of my dress, gripping my hips firmly as he kissed along my jaw. Using the passion between our lips as they met, he tilted my head up. Kane broke from the kiss and looked into my eyes. “Marry me. Be my wife, and I will spend eternity being the kind of husband you deserve.”
I gasped. “What?”
Hands still on my hips he searched my eyes. “Surely you must have known I would ask.”
“Maybe. But you actually asking is different. It’s… real.” It felt as if my heart was about to beat through my ribs. “If this is because I’m pregnant, don’t. I don’t want to marry you because of some silly notion that you have to…”
“I loved you the moment I saw you outside of Crossed Candles in Eldercairn, looking lost yet still so strong. I felt a compelling need to pull you in my arms that was so strong that I fought myself not to act on it. That feeling has only grown as we have spent time together over these weeks. Your condition and our future family does not give me the cause. It merely adds to the already existing reasons that I want you by my side, always.” His fingers glided up and down the small of my back. “I didn’t know I was waiting for you, but I now know that I was, little one. No matter what you decide, I will give you all of me forever. Can I have all of you?”
With my fingers to his cheeks, I leaned up and pressed my lips to him, kissing him soft, slow, deep. The passion between us grew as he slid the top fabric of my dress off my shoulders. Lifting me up, I wrapped my legs around his waist. He carried me to the bed and gently laid me down.
Hovering over me, he loosened the ribbons and unfastened the buttons that held the rest of my outfit on, slipping each layer of fabric away from me as he went, letting it drop down to the floor, discarded out of his way. Once I was completely unclothed, he leaned up and, with less bravado, removed everything he wore before returning to my lips.
Suddenly, he pulled back and looked at me with his eyebrows furrowed. “Is that a yes?”
I choked up. I don’t know if it was fear that slammed my throat shut or the rush of how much of me wanted to shout ‘Yes!’ in that moment. But when my mouth opened, nothing came out.
He stood, backing up a couple steps, watching me. Then, he was gone. I panicked for the moment he was gone. But as I went to stand, he returned.
“I noticed that, on earth, you use rings as a symbol of your dedication to one another just as my people did. In Thillatheas, I had Lochlin attain this.” Kane took my hand in his, holding the ring and standing in front of me. He lowered down onto his knees and, for
