Chapter 130
He kissed me again, deeper this time, and there was something almost reverent in the way he held me.
It was as though all the love he had kept hidden for so long had finally found its way into that kiss.
His arms tightened around me, pulling me closer, as if he had finally been given permission to hold me the way he had always wanted to.
The kiss lingered, growing warmer with every passing moment, until he finally broke away just enough to press a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth.
His lips brushed along my jaw before moving slowly to my neck, leaving a trail of tender kisses against my skin.
After lingering there for a moment, he followed the curve of my jaw back to my mouth and captured my lips again.
And I kissed him back with all the feelings I had finally stopped trying to deny.
"I love you, Cassie," he whispered against my lips between kisses. "I love you so, so much."
I smiled against his lips.
Eventually, we had to break apart, both of us struggling to catch our breath. We simply looked at each other, and the smile on his face was unlike anything I had ever seen from him before. It was radiant, completely unguarded, filled with a happiness that made my heart ache.
He cupped my face again, his thumbs brushing gently across my cheeks, before pressing soft kisses to my closed eyes and then my forehead.
"My dove," he whispered.
His arms wrapped tightly around me, pulling me against his chest as he buried his face in my hair.
"My home. My peace."
His embrace tightened.
"My everything."
I closed my eyes and melted into him, listening to the steady beat of his heart beneath my cheek.
For the first time, neither of us had to pretend.
I could stay like this forever.
"Rhaev..." I called softly, still wrapped in the warmth of his embrace.
"Is that what you're going to call me from now on?" he asked, a faint smile in his voice.
I clicked my tongue. "Don't ruin the moment."
He chuckled. "All right, dove. What is it?"
I tilted my head slightly.
"Who is your lucky charm?"
His smile deepened.
"Do you really need me to answer that?"
I pulled back just enough to look at him, then reached up and gently touched his cheek.
"I want to hear you say it."
For a moment, he simply looked at me.
Then his fingers curled gently around my hand, holding it against his cheek.
"You."
My heart fluttered.
"You've always been my lucky charm, Cassie."
He leaned closer, his forehead resting against mine.
"Every time fate should have turned against me, somehow, you were there. Every time I thought I had lost my way, you found me."
His thumb brushed gently across my knuckles.
"So yes," he whispered, his eyes never leaving mine. "If I have ever had any luck in this life, it has always been you."
I smiled, my eyes stinging with sudden tears.
"And now," he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead, "I finally get to keep my lucky charm."
I looked into his eyes, my heart too full for anything clever to come out.
"I love you, Rhaev."
His smile softened.
"I love you too, dove."
I tucked myself back into his arms, smiling against his chest.
I sighed.
"Well, there goes my plan to seize Viremont."
Rhaevan looked down at me, his eyebrows drawing together.
"Seize Viremont?"
I rolled my eyes. "You know. My original plan. Leave Eryndor, go to Viremont, become powerful, take over the kingdom... something along those lines."
He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
"If you want Viremont, I can get you Viremont."
I stared at him.
He continued, completely serious, "I don't think Lucien would object."
I burst out laughing and smacked his shoulder.
"You cannot just offer me an entire kingdom!"
"I could offer you anything you want, my dove."
I stared at him, amused.
"Look at you, flirting. Who thought the emotionally unavailable stone face could go all lovey-dovey?"
A slow smile spread across his face.
"You're in for a huge surprise, dove. You've unleashed the charm within me."
"Stop it, Rhaev," I said, my cheeks suddenly heating at his increasingly cheesy pickup lines.
He chuckled, clearly enjoying my embarrassment.
"I've barely started."
My thumb brushed over the small indentation beside his mouth as he smiled wider.
"You know," I said, trying very hard to sound casual, "your dimples are going to become a problem."
His eyebrows lifted.
"A problem? How so?"
I touched the other side of his face.
"I've always liked them."
A faint flush appeared across his cheeks.
I smiled.
"I just couldn't exactly tell you that before."
"Why not?"
I gave him an incredulous look.
"Because you were Rhaevan Aetheris, the intimidating, emotionally unavailable, annoyingly handsome, and completely impossible-to-read mage."
His smile grew.
"And now?"
"Now I know you're an idiot who cries when he thinks he's lost me."
He laughed.
The sound caught me completely off guard.
I had heard Rhaevan laugh before, but this was different. It was warm and unguarded, and the sight of those dimples appearing again made something inside me soften.
I couldn't resist touching one of them.
"I really can't believe I get to see these whenever I want now."
His laughter faded into a quiet smile.
"You're planning to stare at my face that often?"
"Definitely."
He shook his head, but the smile remained.
I found myself smiling too.
It was strange how easy this suddenly felt. After all the misunderstandings, the secrets, and the things neither of us had been brave enough to say, standing there with my hand against his cheek felt almost natural.
Then the compass began to glow.
I glanced down.
The familiar light was spreading through the metal rings, slowly becoming brighter until the chamber was filled with a soft golden glow.
I sighed.
"Of course."
Rhaevan looked at the compass and then back at me.
"What?"
"The universe finally gives me one peaceful moment, and the compass decides that we've spent enough time being happy."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
"We do have a mission to complete."
"I know."
I looked down at the glowing device.
"Two fragments found, one more to go, and apparently ancient magical artefacts have no respect for newly confessed relationships."
His lips curved.
"Perhaps it is reminding us not to become distracted."
I looked at him.
"You are the one distracting me."
"Am I?"
"Absolutely."
He pulled me closer.
"Then perhaps I should apologise."
Before I could respond, his hand came to my cheek and he kissed me.
Apparently, we had both forgotten how to behave.
We were already getting dizzy from all the kissing, but neither of us seemed particularly interested in stopping.
"Rhaev..." I murmured against his lips.
"Hmm?"
"We really should get going."
"Mmm... we should."
He paused for a moment before adding, almost innocently, "Just five more minutes."
I laughed softly.
"I can't believe a single confession could change you like this."
"I've been holding back for a long time."
"You're impossible."
"And yet," he murmured, his smile deepening, "you love me."
I stared at him.
This man was going to be unbearable.
I knew that for sure.
Author's Bullshit
Finally, they confessed!!!
There. I've added enough kisses to make up for all 128 chapters of suffering. ??
I've literally been blushing while writing these scenes... I hope you guys were blushing too. ??
Also, I won't be able to update for the next two days because I'll be out of station.
Don't forget me! Keep voting, keep commenting, and most importantly, keep loving my duo. ??