Chapter 48

• Alina
• There wasa gentleness to his voice that I’ve never heard before.
• I reflected upon his words. No, I wasn’t uncomfortable. Shy maybe? But not uncomfortable. This wasn’t four years ago. This wasn’t the Erick who stumbled into my house under Emiel’s compulsion and hurt me. No, he was not that Erick anymore. He would never again be that vulnerable. Then I realized something with startling clarity: I wanted to be with him. Not just because he had made so much effort into making me comfortable tonight. It was not just because I’m now his wife either. I wanted this for myself. I wanted to feel his skin on mine. I wanted him to mark me so deep that no one can separate our scents. I wanted him.