Page 82 of When Night Falls

"I was just trying it on," I tell him as I attempt to pull the ring off, embarrassed that he caught me in the vulnerable moment of mine.

Rivian walks towards me, smoky heat invades my senses as I take in how fucking delicious he smells. I look down at my hands to try and avoid eye contact as he gets closer, but his shadow takes up my space and before I know what's happening, Rivian is lifting my chin with his finger to direct my eyes up at his own.

"It's beautiful, little one. But it's not the one I picked out for you." Rivian moves his eyes down to my lips, then over my cleavage, causing my skin to light on fire.

When he looks back up to my eyes, he reaches down to grab my hand and twists the ring on my finger.

"But you can keep it on for now, if it makes you feel better. But ring or not, everyone knows you're fucking mine." The growl in his tone is possessive and it creates this idea that he really does want me. That he will allow himself the coveted luxury of no longer having to hide his wants and needs.

He gives me butterflies like no other as I simply nod a helpless nod at him and allow him to lean down, pressing a kiss to my temple.

"I'm half tempted to tell you to change out of this dress though, if I’m being honest. I'm afraid I do tend to get jealous, and I can already tell that tonight all eyes will be on you." He whispers his words against my hair before pulling back and searching my eyes for any kind of reaction.

I'm sure he can see me spiraling right now.

"But you're missing one thing," he says as he reaches into this suit jacket and pulls out a mask.

My mask.

Rivian unties the ties and brings the mask up to my face. He levels it to position and then reaches around to secure it into place.

As he does this, something carnal sets off inside me and my innerbadasserykicks in, leaning forward and pressing my lips to his as he continues to make work of the ties.

He lets me kiss him like this for a few seconds before he's got the mask secured and he moves his hands to my cheeks, holding me while I let his tongue slip inside my mouth and he groans as he kisses me.

It’s all warmth and caressing, tantalizing and possessive. I don’t want to let go, but he does.

"Fuck, Lucynda. You are a drug." His harsh tone bleeds with his desire to take more and I let that feeling soak into my skin and dive my pulse to a frenzy.

And I want you addicted,is what I want to say. But I don't even dare think it in case he is reading my mind right now.

"Are you ready to go?" He takes a step back and straightens his jacket out before reaching for my hand. I give him the one with the placeholder ring.

"How come you didn't tell me about this?" I ask as he leads us out of my room.

"You've been in your room all day, haven't you?" He questions me, as if I had a choice.

"What do you mean?"

"You overthink when you're alone. You should have come to find me." He places his hand at the small of my back as we exit out the front door of the castle where we approach a car waiting for us.

"I didn't know you wanted that." I stop before proceeding to the door that Kacian is holding open for me. “But you could have also come to me,” I add, trying my best not to sound too disappointed.

"I know we've not seen eye to eye. But I want to rectify that. If you ever need me, you can call my name or you can come find me. My time is yours." He looks down at me with power and truth radiating from his eyes, as if to let me know that his attempt to push me away the last time I begged for his time will never happen again.

It warms me. It creates optimism for our situation. Maybe things will turn out for the better after all. All I ask for is that we are on the same page and that we learn to trust and respect each other.

"Let's get going," he says as he nods to the car.

"Wait, can we walk?" He looks at me in confusion as I explain my reasoning. "It'll be my last time walking the streets as a human. I just-"

Rivian pulls me into him, pushing the loose strands of hair off of my face as he lowers his voice for just the two of us to hear.

"You don't need to explain, little one. Whatever you want. We can walk." And then he turns and waves Kacian away.

"Thank you," I whisper to him before we start our journey to the Gilded Hollow to celebrate my final night.

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