Page 32 of Claimed By River

I nod once before walking toward the bedroom and quietly closing the door behind me. I sit on the edge of the bed with my hands folded in my lap, staring at the ring I’d once viewed as nothing more than protection.

When had it become something else? When had this marriage stopped being temporary in my heart? I replay the past few weeks over and over. He built a bubble of safety around me, and I didn’t even notice I was standing in it.

River making breakfast because he wanted me to sleep in. Leaving coffee on my desk without interrupting me while I worked. Standing beside me whenever a client became rude. Covering me with a blanket after I’d fallen asleep on the couch.

Even before we kissed, before we married, he’d been quietly taking care of me. Not because he expected anything in return. Because that’s simply who he is. A painful thought slips into my mind. Does he love me? Or is this simply who River is with everyone?

Maybe I’m just another person he feels responsible for. Maybe he’ll be relieved to end our marriage. The thought hurts far more than I expect. I stand and walk toward the bedroom window. Outside, Atlanta continues moving as though nothing has changed.

My father is gone. Ivan is married. For the first time since I was seventeen, I’m completely free. I could leave tomorrow, move anywhere, and start over again. No one would stop me. But I don’t want to. The realization settles over me with startling clarity.

Why don’t I want to? The answer arrives almost immediately. Because home isn’t a place anymore. Home is River. I don’t want another fresh start or false identity. I want lazy mornings arguing over coffee and listening to him complain about my alphabetized pantry. I want him.

I want the tall, heavily tattooed teddy bear of a man whose hazel eyes go black when someone looks at me wrong and turn molten when he looks at me. The truth crashes into me so suddenly I laugh through fresh tears.

“I’m in love with him.” The words echo around the bedroom.

They’re terrifying. They’re wonderful. They’re true.

Without giving myself another chance to overthink it, I hurry toward the living room.

River is pacing exactly where I left him.

The moment he sees me, he stops. “You okay?”

The question bursts out before I lose my nerve. “Do you want an annulment?”

He doesn’t hesitate. “No.”

The force behind the answer steals my breath.

He crosses the room in three long strides. “I don’t. I don’t want a divorce either. I love you, Nadia.”

Everything inside me goes still.

“I’ve been trying to convince myself this marriage was temporary, but somewhere along the way…” He laughs softly at himself. “I forgot it was supposed to be fake.”

Tears fill my eyes again as he holds my gaze.

“I love waking up beside you.” His voice shakes. “I love arguing with you.”

I smile through my tears.

“I even love your impossible need to organize everything.”

A laugh escapes me.

“But…” His expression grows more serious. “You’ve never had a choice before. Your father made your choices. Ivan almost made your choices. I’m not going to.” He swallows and exhales. “If ending this marriage is what you want, I’ll sign whatever papers you need.”

He smiles sadly. “It’ll hurt. But I’ll let you go.”

Everything suddenly becomes perfectly clear. He isn’t trying to keep me but giving me the room to stay. He handed me a key on the first night without thinking about it, and he’s doing the same thing now with something that costs him a great deal more. That’s the difference. That’s love.

I throw my arms around his neck before he can say another word and kiss him with everything I’ve been too afraid to admit.

When we finally pull apart, I rest my forehead against his. “I love you too. I don’t want an annulment. I want my husband.”

His breath catches, and a slow smile spreads across his face. “I was really hoping you’d say that.”