Page 890 of Coal Hearts

She stilled, lust shattering over her gorgeous face. “Only when I ask and only ever in private.”

I sighed and nuzzled my nose with hers. “Ily...”

“Listen to me, Hen.” Her voice turned harsh with seriousness. “I love you—”

“I love you too. That’s why—”

“Hush. Let me finish.” She narrowed her eyes. “I love you. Unconditionally. That means I love all of you. All the scars you try to hide. All the needs you pretend you no longer feel. I love you, Henri. Every tiny piece. Every perfect and imperfect piece. And I need you to trust me when I say I see you. I know you. You don’t have to hide. No part of you will ever turn me off. I trust you to protect me and punish me, and I wouldn’t be honest if I agreed to be yours, all while you’re preventing yourself from being the very man I fell madly in love with.”

“That man has so many faults.”

“That man was alone and lost, but now he’s not.” She ran her thumb over my cheekbone. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore. You can’t hurt me—not in the way you fear, because you love me.”

“I love you more than anything in this world.”

“I know. And that’s why I want you to be free. Be with me, Henri. Love me in your own way. I want it. I need it. Just as much as you.”

I shivered as her promises soaked into the carpet around us.

For a while, I couldn’t say anything.

She gave me time.

She watched me cycle through fear and indecision and hope and shame and need.

Collapsing over her, I kissed my way down her neck, licking gently at the scar left from Victor’s knife. “Thank you. For loving me that much.”

She smiled. “Always. Forever. No matter what.”

“Are you sure?”

A soft giggle fell from her lips. “I was sure the moment I saw you in the club. I knew the moment we whispered in the library, and I thought you were a cop. And I knew it the second you made me touch the stars when you pleasured me and—”

“Hurt you.”

She nodded gently.

I sighed heavily as the black knot in my heart slowly unfurled. Soul-shaking hope bled through me. “Say that I agree to your terms.”

Her eyes instantly lit up. “Go on...”

“Say I punish you and use you—”

“Oh God.” She shivered dramatically. “Yes please.”

I chuckled under my breath. “Now who’s interrupting?”

“Sorry. Please...” She smirked. “Continue.”

“Say I rule you right here, where no one can see you writhe for me, and I trust that you’ll stop me if I ever go too far.”

She blinked as I looked down at her.

“Say I do all that.” I dragged out the moment. “Will you...squirt for me?” I snickered. “Like you did in Sapphire Scars?”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Why you—” A blush tinged her cheeks. “I take it back. Get off me.”

I laughed again and pinned her wrists above her head. “Too late, little nightmare.”