Chapter 109

“I’ve never felt more humiliated in my entire life!” Mendora huffed once Solaire had planted her back on her feet. She took the opportunity to straighten out her clothes before raising her eyes to his. A satisfied grin curving over his mouth as he continued to observe her in silence.

“Well?” hands coming up to mimic her question, “you brought me to this darkened room, locked the door and all you could think to do is stand there and stare at me like a fool?” her hands bracketed on her hips as a gust of air whipped out of her. How in blazes did he even know this room existed?

“I could never call a man foolish for wanting to stare at you,” silence broken, eyes darkening as he reached up to untie his mask. Solaire tossed it to side before

“No, but it would make you uncomfortable would it not?” her mind transporting her back to that night. The night she realised her love was unrequited and a big waste of her energy.

Solaire stepped closer, barricading her between his body and the door. He reached out to remove her mask. Hesitant at first but she allowed it. “It would.” He admitted. For all the changes he implemented of himself, for all the trust he would place in her, he’d never stop finding annoyance in other men vying for her attention. “I’ve come to realise that I am a possessive man where you are concerned,”

“Possessive or shallow?” seemingly pleased with herself with her jab at him, Mendora leaned casually back against the door behind her.

“You are entitled to your opinions of me, Mendora. I have given you enough reason to nurse that idea you have of me,” By the devil, if he’d thought her presence was distracting before, it was ten times worse now that they were alone.

“I am happy to agree on something,” she adjusted herself against the door, “should we discuss how we’d go about ending the engagement to the ton now or should you prefer to table it for a more civilised location?”

Hearing her words, Solaire slammed his hand on the door behind her, locking her in as he leaned forward, “this again?” his brows arched in disbelief. “Can we not talk without you bringing up the end every two sentences?”

“I keep having to bring it up because you keep ignoring and stalling me,” she wanted to scream at him. It was frustrating that she had to continuously beg him to help her publically end a relationship that was long broken. If she was able to do it on her own she would but she needed him to co-operate.

“Do you not think I have a proper reason for that?” he was becoming equally frustrated by her resistance to listen to him, to give him a chance to explain, to apologise or even to confess.

“Proper or otherwise, it is merely a formality to address our relationship status to the ton. We’ve already been apart for long, there really is nothing to discuss. Why are you making this so difficult?” she leaned off the door, millimetres away from their body grazing against each other.

Lowering to speak words against her lips, to have his breath prying her mouth open, Solaire attempted to temper his frustration when he responded, “I do not care where you’ve been or for how long,” he searched her eyes with his own, his voice a harsh whisper, his fangs making the occasional appearance with every word pronounced, “Hell, I can even forget if you were with another man,” the words burned as he said it but regardless of her relationship with Finn, he wanted her. For as long as she wanted him too. “but you are betrothed to me.” He peered into her eyes, driving home the gravity of what he was saying, “You are mine. My mark on you can never be erased or dulled, no matter how you might try.”

His words had the equivalent effect as if someone had pierced through her chest with a wooden stake. Painful and unnecessary. Did he think she didn’t know just how much of a mark he left on her? It was impossible to erase, she knew because she tried and nothing helped. “And what? What does any of that change about our situation?” she in his face, their noses brushing against each other’s.

“If you’d just permit me a chance to tell you...” his voice was raising, both competing to be heard, to be the dominant voice.

“Tell me what?” she raged, “what could you possibly have to say that could change us?” her lips parched, her throat burning by the force in which she spoke.

“That I fucking love you,” his hand came off the door slightly, slamming back down immediately to release his pent up frustration, “God damn it!” he watched as the fight in her eyes sobered, mellowing out until the only signs of her pre-existing anger was the rapid rise and fall off her chest.

Mendora had wanted to hear those words months ago when she confessed her own feelings. Had dreamt about how different their life would have been had Solaire felt the same in the moment.

Now that she heard it coming from him, the stake thrusted in her chest twisted. Batting away his arm and shoving at him, Mendora walked further away. Desperate for some distance between them.

Solaire followed up quickly, watching as her back was turned to him, her arms coming up to cushion both sides of her head.

“I recognised that I was stupid. I projected my fears onto you which was not fair at all,” he continued, considering this his opportunity to set the record straight, to lay his emotions down. “I drove you away. That was my fault and I can stand responsibility for that. You can hate me, banter with me all you like but I do not want to let you go, Mendora.”

“Stop,” she was beginning to feel overwhelmed. “Just stop,” she begged, turning around to face him. “I cannot listen to this right now,” The last few months she’d spent hating him. Wanting to hate him and now, as the brick and stone fell from around her heart all she felt was battered and bruised.

“I can pause,” he nodded, coming up to wrap his arms around her, resting his forehead against hers, his voice softening as he lowered his head to hers. “But I do love you.” Her eyes closed, committing the moment to memory because she had a feeling she would need it. Her breaths coming out slow, calculated. Neck raising, their lips a breath apart.

Solaire dipped, pressing a quick kiss on her pillow like lips. He’d just wanted a taste. A reminder to touch up on the colours in his memory. But when had one ever been enough? He kissed her again and again. Tiny pecks. With every one the frustration within him eased while his cock aroused.

Mendora parted her lips, kissing him back and deepening the motion. Before she knew it, her arms were wrapping around his neck, drawing him closer as she exhaled into the kiss.

This was a bad idea. But neither of them had the urge to stop.