Chapter 114 TO BE STRUCK BY THE REALIZATION
MERRIELYNN.
I watched each second of the clock go by while listening to the steady beating of Cormac’s heart.
It was already past midnight, and Cormac had his arm around me.
Everything felt so calm, like it was just two of us in the world...and it was perfect.
Out of nowhere, Cormac shifted beneath me. I moved and turned to see him propping himself up on one elbow. “I’ve got another surprise for you,” he suddenly announced.
“Another one?” I asked, pulling the sheets tighter around my naked body. “You’re spoiling me, Cormac.”
Because after everything that’d happened yesterday, he’d led me to another room where I quite literally had to pick my jaw off the ground.
It was filled with luxury clothes, and bags, and shoes, damn near from wall to wall. He’d had them delivered while we were out.
He’d had them delivered for me.
He got out of bed before simply saying, “You’re worth it.”
I leaned over as he walked over to his bag, his curly hair falling over his forehead as he rummaged through it. I couldn’t help but smile. He always got this determined expression whenever he was up to something.
A second later, he pulled out a small box and turned to me, a grin appearing on his lips,
“What’s that?” I asked, staring at the box.
He came back to the bed, sitting beside me. “Open it and see,” he said, handing it over.
I hesitated for a moment, a nervous laugh escaping me. “Alright,” I said, smiling like a little girl.
Slowly, I opened the box and my lips parted when I saw a silver necklace inside. I turned to look at Cormac before staring at the necklace again.
There was a diamond pendant on it, sparkling beautifully and I ran a finger over it. I had a feeling I’d seen this before and it soon enough, the recognition hit.
“Wait...” I murmured, turning to Cormac. My mind raced back to the day we went to the palace for the moonstone. The diamond there, the one I’d been so enamoured with—this looked just like it, only smaller. My lips parted in disbelief as I stared at Cormac for a confirmation. “Is this...?”
He nodded, his smile widening. “I saw the way you looked at it at the palace that day. Figured you liked it, so I had it cut into something just for you.”
I didn’t know what to say.
I quickly looked away, hiding thestupidhappy tears. “Cormac,” I whispered, running my thumb over the pendant. It was perfect—simple, beautiful, and so thoughtful that it almost hurt.
He shrugged like it was nothing. “You liked it. Plus, I bet it would look better on you than sitting in some glass case.”
My heart swelled, and I couldn’t stop the smile spreading across my face.
My fingers instinctively moved to the necklace already around my neck, brushing over the pendant.Cormac watched me for a moment and before I could say anything, he shook his head slightly.
“You don’t have to take that one off,” he said quietly. “Actually, I don’t want you to.”
I smiled again, tilting my head at him. “You’re not worried my other lover gave it to me?” I teased, raising an eyebrow.
Cormac let out a low chuckle, shaking his head as he opened the clasp on the new necklace. “Nope,” he said simply, almost amused.
I bit my lip, stifling a laugh as I held my hair up and turned my back to him. He leaned close and helped me put the new necklace around my neck. I stared down at my chest, seeing the two necklaces side by side.
“There,” he murmured, leaning back to take a good look at the necklaces and then smiling.
I reached up, touching both pendants. They didn’t feel like too much, even together. In fact, they felt... perfect. Both of them. “It’s not too much,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. “It’s just right.”
Overwhelmed with gratitude, I shifted closer to him, climbing into his lap. His hands instinctively went up to my waist and I cupped his face, leaning in to kiss him.
When I pulled back for a moment,Cormac’s eyes dropped to my naked chest—heating as they locked on my bare breasts. I saw that playful smirk on his lips, and when he looked up at me, I saw the heat in his gaze. “If this is how you’re going to thank me for gifts from now on, I hope you’re ready to be flooded with them,” he said.
I laughed hard, resting my forehead against his and kissing him again. “Thank you,Cormac,” I murmured. “Thank you so much.”
He simply smiled and pulled me in for another kiss, making my heart feel fuller than it had ever been.
––•––
Spring break ended far too quickly for my liking.
It felt like just yesterday Cormac and I were having the time of our lives.
These days, it felt like it was just the two of in the world. Now, the fun was over and he was driving me back to my dorms, his hand resting on my thigh as if he wasn’t ready to let me go.
When we arrived in front of the building, I sighed and stared at him, already missing him. I leaned over, pressing a kiss to his lips. It was supposed to be quick—a simple goodbye. But when I pulled back and reached for the door handle, I heard the faint click of the doors locking shut.
I looked over at him, raising an eyebrow. “Cormac?” I called, a smile creeping up my lips.
“What?” he said innocently, leaning back in his seat. “You’re really going to leave me just like that?”
I rolled my eyes but leaned in again, kissing him deeply this time. His hand slid to the back of my neck, holding me close. And when I finally pulled away, his lips were parted, but his expression was far from satisfied.
“You’re greedy, you know that?” I teased, unlocking the door myself.
“Yeah, yeah,” he whispered under his breath. Before he leaned back and hit a button, unlocking the doors.
As I stepped out, his expression shifted instantly, and something about it stopped me in my tracks.
The loving warmth in his eyes had quickly disappeared, replaced by something more overprotective.
His jaw tightened as he watched me walk away, his eyes darting around as if he was already plotting to murder whoever dared to cross his path now.
It was weird and I tried not to overthink it.
That was just Cormac. The shift in his expressions, the sudden coldness in his look—it was nothing personal.
That’s just how he was.
That was something I’d come to oddly understand about him.
I laughed to myself and shook my head.
He was so strange.
As I walked up the path to the dorms, I reached up and clutched the necklaces around my neck. Not failing to notice how they rested perfectly together again.
Smiling to myself, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.
And as I pushed my dorm room door open, I came to a realization.
I was in love with Cormac Graves.