Chapter 70
Aleksandr
Confession And Bears
She walked back to the table and, even though she didn’t need to, she picked up the remaining one. My card was in her hands—fuck, my heart was in her hands. I stood and awkwardly made my way over to the last gift bag.
With a sense of reverence, I approached her. My hands shook, and I took a deep breath. Our gazes locked, and she offered me a sweet smile and a mix of anticipation and tenderness. I breathed out. This wasn’t going to be easy, and I had no idea how she’d take it.
“I must confess something before you open this. It’s not something I’m proud of, and I spent a lot of time hating myself initially.”
Her brows drew together, and she grew still. I had committed to this idea months ago, and it had taken me quite a bit of time to find them in brand-new, pristine condition. Would it be enough to make up for what I’d done to her? Only time would tell, so I pressed on.
“Before the fire in Seattle, I attempted to deal with my inexcusable behavior by staying away from you. The universe had other plans, and I’m so fucking glad my brothers talked sense into me, or I wouldn’t have you to love now.”
I paused and took a deep breath. My eyes sought Marcel’s, and he gave me a quick nod. My mind was a mix of jumbled messages, and I suddenly felt like I was doing everything wrong. I raked a hand through my hair and refocused on her, clearing my throat.
“Kitten, I don’t know the story of these, nor do I need to. All I know is they are significant to you in some way, and anything that has meaning for you has meaning for me.”
“Alek, you’re making me nervous,” she stammered.
Her face was full of concentration and worry. Damn, this wasn’t supposed to be this hard.
“I broke into your house one night. Just to ensure you were okay—it was after you threatened my cock with your blade. These were surrounding you and, well, hopefully my photographic memory will make up for the action of violating your privacy. Shit, that sounds horrible now that I’ve said it out loud.
Damn it, I’m sorry, kitten. Please forgive me. ”
I couldn’t stand it another minute. Sweat slipped down my back as my nervousness consumed me. I thrust the gift bag toward her outstretched hands. She accepted it, her curiosity piqued by my words. As she unwrapped it, her eyes widened with astonishment.
The room fell silent as she pulled the red fox bear from the bag and blinked rapidly. Then uttered a heartfelt cry.
“How?”
Her eyes were as wide as saucers. Frantically, she dug into the bag and pulled out the stuffed yellow rose bear.
“These are like…but how?” The tears streamed down her face, and she cradled the two of them.
“Kitten, I know it isn’t the same. These aren’t the ones you had as a child, but—”
She wailed as she shifted the two bears into one arm and dug the last one out. The Vincent van Gogh pawlette bunny with a blue T-shirt flew out of the bag, and she fell to her knees to grab it.
“My bears. They’re just like the ones I lost. Marcel, my bears.” Her hands shook violently as she tried to process her emotions.
“I can see that. Alek told me he wanted to bring them back to you in some small way. To let you know how much you mean to all of us.”
“Oh, Alek.” She leaped up and ran into my arms, the bears squashed between us as she sobbed hysterically.
I met Marcel’s eyes once more. “You’ve got this,” he whispered.
And I realized I did. I held her in my arms until her cries became hiccups that gave way to sniffles. Somewhere in between, Ivan handed her tissues.
Finally, I found my voice. “Kitten, you’re everything and more to me.
I don’t know how or when, but you’ve become the sun in my sky, the very beat of my heart, and I yearn for you like no other.
” I pushed her hair back and tuned everyone else out.
Focusing solely on her and her soft gaze as she took my breath away.
I swallowed the lump in my throat as I held her on my lap. The rush of emotions humbled me like never before. Feeling a hand on my shoulder, I looked up and saw Nik. He nodded, understanding like only he could.
“You’ve got the Reaper speechless. Well done, baby.”
I looked once more at her and the adoration and trust in her eyes and knew I existed solely for her. “You, my sweet little kitten, are a cherished, long-awaited dream we never knew we had.”
Ivan moved to the other side of me. “He’s right. The three of us share an unbreakable and persistent love for you.”
I cupped her face in my hands. “Kinsley, you are our queen, and a queen’s place is with her Kings.”
Sebastian handed me the last of our gifts for her. I placed the exquisite “Beatrice” tiara in her hands.
“It was cast from the most radiant 18-karat white gold. If you look closely, you can see the intricate pattern inspired by the graceful scrolls of the palace gardens.”
She exclaimed as she tilted it and it caught the light.
“It’s encrusted with scores of pavé diamonds. Their brilliance matches yours. The central motif—the heart, if you will—is detachable. You can wear it as a necklace.”
Nik came around and kneeled. Ivan once more kneeled in front of us. Nik looked deep into her eyes and spoke with sincerity.
“Baby girl, I pledge my unwavering support and understanding to you. I promise to always be your strength, the one who stands beside you through every challenge. You’ll never walk alone. You are a part of us, and we are forever united. I will be your anchor in this life always, as you are mine.”
“Just as long as when you look at me, your eyes dance the way they are now,” she declared, caressing his face.
“Always,” he whispered and kissed her hand.
“Little love, I pledge to keep laughter alive in our lives. I promise to allow you all the mischievous sparkle you need to navigate this world. I pledge to be the one who makes you smile, even on your toughest days. I also pledge to be your covering from the harshness out there. I hope you will allow me to shield you every day you are alive.”
“I will, my beloved.” She caressed his face.
I placed the crown on her head and kissed her lips. “And I pledge my undying love and shelter from the storms of this life. I will—no, we will stand by your side when it gets ugly, hold you in the dark, and never, ever abandon you.”
Loud sobs escaped her as she hugged me. Sebastian and Marcel looked proudly at all of us, and I never felt more complete in my life. Everything was going to be okay.
A throat cleared, and all of our heads snapped in the direction it came from.
“Am I interrupting something important? I can come back.” Isabella stood shifting from one foot to the other, her quiet voice trembling.