Chapter 114: Hundred and fourteen

RIVEN BLACKWOOD POV

"This was fun, right?" I asked, staring at her face as she basked in the sun, her skin glowing in the light.

She grinned, her head turning in my direction. "After receiving gold bars from your Dad, I really don't have much to complain about."

I chuckled, then tilted my face to the sun.

We lay in comfortable silence, enjoying the sound of nature.

It was serene.

I glanced at her. Her eyes were closed, but I could see some creases on her forehead, and I wondered if it was wise to bring her to the beach after what happened with Ethan.

"Are you really okay, Hazel?" I asked, watching as her eyes blinked open, her gaze fixed on the crashing waves as she thought over my question.

We've already talked through most of her trauma but I needed to make sure that she was truly fine. I had to know that I wasn't doing something that could jeopardize all the progress she'd made. I wanted to make sure I was her safe space just like she was mine. "You can tell me anything you know."

She met my gaze, her beautiful eyes shining. "What do you think? Do I not look okay?"

I blinked, getting lost in their depths as her question swirled in my head.

Her nightmare had stopped, so I knew we were making progress, but sometimes she got this faraway look in her eyes that scared me. Just to know she was in pain tore at my heart and I just wanted to make everything better.

"You look okay most of the time," I said, then reached out, placing my hand on the center of her chest, "But I think your heart still hurts." I glanced up at her.

She let out a shaky breath, her gaze dropping to my hand.

"It's perfectly okay for you to still feel hurt you know. You've been through so much, and you haven't had much time to process or heal," I said, letting my hand drop. "I'm sorry I rushed you into getting married. It's my fault. I'm selfish. I didn't want to spend another moment away from you. I should have given you more time..."

She cupped my face, her eyes fixed on mine. "Don't say that. If I didn't want to be with you, I wouldn't have agreed to a wedding."

I grabbed hold of her wrist, the soft caress of her fingers on my cheek mending all the broken cracks in my lungs. Did I do the same for her?

"You bring me peace, Riven, and I need you to know that," she uttered, almost as if she could see what went on in my head. "When I am with you, I don't think of all the bad stuff that happened... I am no longer afraid because I have you by my side... I no longer feel so lonely even when you're gone because I know you'll always come back to me."

My heart faltered then picked up. Hearing her say that I was her peace was everything I needed and more.

I pressed my lips against the pulse on her wrist, then met her gaze. "Don't ever feel like you can't tell me anything... Even if in the future you fall out of love with me..." She started to shake her head but I pressed on. "I am not perfect, Hazel. I am a cold-blooded killer, I get violent mood swings, I get distant, and sometimes I do not listen, you have to tell me if you ever fall out of love or if I do something wrong..."

Her hold on my face became more insistent, her touch sending shivers down my spine. "I've seen you at your worst Riven... Did you already forget how we met..."

The memories flashed in my head and then I jerked back to reality as her fingers tangled in my hair, our eyes clashing.

"I'll love you no matter what Riven. No. Matter. What."

It was difficult to breathe. I leaned in, our faces inches apart.

"Then I promise to be the best husband to you. I promise to love you every day, each day better than the last"

Her lips stretched her beautiful teeth on display.

My heart swelled, almost combusting from happiness. Tears brimmed in my eyes.

"You're my heart, Hazel," I choked out, took hold of her hand, and placed it over my chest.

She met my gaze, her eyes widening as she felt the strong rhythm of my heartbeat.

"This is what you do to me, Hazel. You make me feel more alive than I've ever been in a very long time. Thank you for coming into my life and making it so, so beautiful, Hazel," I whispered, watching as her eyes filled up, the light reflecting in them, making them sparkle.

"I love you, Riven, always," she confessed, then threw her arms around me, her palm pressing into my skin as she buried her face in my chest.

I held onto her, pressing my face against her hair and inhaling deeply.

"I love you too, Hazel. Always."

"Are you nervous? Is that why you wanted to come to the beach all of a sudden?" She asked, feeding me a fruit slice.

I shook my head as I chewed. "I wanted to spend time with you. We've both been very busy with the wedding preparation."

"You're right. But it's been a great experience, also I have Lena and Eloise with me. They make everything so much easier."

"Eloise's a really nice woman," I agreed, happy that she had someone as pure-hearted as her in her life. "Lena is, too; I guess Raphael is the only black sheep in their family".

Hazel's gaze whipped to mine just as I expected, and I grinned.

"Stop hating on Raphael. He's not a black sheep whatsoever, besides, he already said he won't think of me in that way anymore."

That was because I threatened to cut his balls off, but Hazel didn't need to know that. I didn't want her to be pissed at me just a few days before our wedding

Hazel let out a sigh, then lay down on her side, her elbow propping up to support her weight.

"You should just lie on me, baby," I said, mimicking her movement and lying down on my back. "You'll feel so much better."

She grinned, then scooted closer, her eyes sparkling. "Hmm— have I ever told you just how pretty your eyes are?"

The smug smile came easily. "Once or twice. I am not tired of hearing you say it though."

She giggled, then rested her head on my chest, the sound of her pulse drumming against my skin in tune with my heartbeat.

"You have the most beautiful eyes, Riven." Her voice was soft, almost like a caress against my skin.

The compliment had my heart flipping in my chest. I pressed a kiss to her head, loving the feel of her skin against my lips.

"Your eyes are prettier."

She chuckled, the sound vibrating against my skin.

"I knew you were going to say that."

I smiled, then pulled her closer, my eyes slipping close. "It's because it's true."

We listened quietly to the sound of the roaring waves.

It was just me and her. It was us against the world.