Broken (The Captive #5.5)(52)
"I will get out of it Genny."
She rested her fingers against his cheek and kissed him tenderly. "You really don't have to find us a house. Camille and I are safe here, especially now that Felix is dead."
"I'd prefer it if you weren't in this house or this area of town on your own. Besides it won't be for long, only until things are straightened out. Even if my father disowns me, I'll still own my mother's properties and retain the money that was left to me from her. We'll go to stay at my villa in Italy once everything is settled."
"He can't disown you," she whispered. "I won't be the cause of a rift in your family or do anything that could place you in jeopardy."
His fingers slid over her face, his thumb traced her bottom lip. "You won't be; he will be the one to make the decision in the end." She opened her mouth to argue with him further but he placed his finger over her mouth and shook his head. "I've made my choice Genny and I choose you. I won't lie, it will be a difficult undertaking but you are the one that I want. There won't be any danger; he can't harm me because I refuse to marry someone. There are far too many in my world that would prefer if my marriage to Anna didn't take place. They will side with me on the decision, more so than they will side with my father due to my pure bloodline."
"They won't accept me though; I'm just a village girl."
"They'll accept what they must. It's my bloodline that matters, not that of my mate and if I am disowned by my father I will still take a seat on The Council under my mother's line. Arguing with me about this isn't going to change my mind on the matter so just let me hold you. I've finally got you back and I intend to enjoy it."
How could she argue with that when all she wanted was the same thing? She curled closer against him, rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes as she savored in his heat and strength. "I really did dream about you," she murmured as she stifled a yawn. "Every night. I had a dream the other night though that was so real it was as if you were there, as if I was actually touching you and speaking with you."
His lips pressed against her hair. "At the river, on the log."
Her body went completely still, her hands flattened against his chest. "I pulled us off the log and into the water."
A minute of silence passed by before his lips rested against her ear and he spoke. "You said to me, 'take from me what you need; I won't refuse you again.'"
"And you said to me, 'I'll always be here for you.'"
"And I will be."
"But what does it mean? How could we have had the same dream?"
His hand wrapped around her head as he held it more firmly against his chest and rested his chin on top of it. "It means that you belong with me and I'm never going to let you go again. No matter what it takes."
She knew that he was right, that she would have to put her pride aside because she could not turn him away again. They belonged together. It was going to be the most difficult journey of their lives but there was no doubt in her mind that if it meant being with him, it would be worth it.
"I'm never going to let you go again either," she vowed.
CHAPTER 18
Atticus placed her trunk down near the small window and turned to face Genny. She stood in the doorway of the room. Her eyes were filled with admiration as they swept around the room before settling on the large bed. She walked across the floor, placed her hands on the mattress, and pushed down. "It's so soft," she marveled.
He glanced down at the beaten trunk, the only possession she'd brought with her, the only possession she'd even had aside from the clothes it held. He was going to make sure that changed very soon. He couldn't help but smile as she continued to stare around the room with a wondrous look on her face. If she found this amazing, she would love Italy and every other place he planned to take her over the many years they would share together. He was going to thoroughly enjoy spoiling her for the rest of her life.
"This is a beautiful home," she whispered.
"I'll pass on your praise to the owners."
She smiled at him as she sat on the bed and folded her hands in her lap. "Who are the owners?"
"They are cousins of Merle's. They're in Spain right now."
Camille suddenly appeared in the doorway, her eyes were aglow with pleasure, her face flushed with excitement as she bounced on her toes. "This place is amazing!" she gushed before turning away and disappearing down the hall.
Genny laughed and shook her head before focusing on him again. "I think she's happy."
"And you?" he inquired.
"I'm extremely happy," she smiled at him as she glanced down at her hands.
"Your sister is an endless ball of energy," Merle grumbled as he walked past the door with Camille's trunk in hand.
"That she is," Genny agreed but Merle was already gone.
Atticus walked around the bed and sat next to her on it. Taking hold of her hands, he folded them in his lap. "I plan to stay here tonight."
"Don't you have to return home?" she asked anxiously.
He hadn't been home in the three days since Felix's death, but that wasn't overly unusual. He'd often spent a week or more away on hunting trips or simply losing himself with the women and blood that the clubs had to offer. "I'll return home tomorrow to speak with my father; I'm going to make sure you're settled in here first though."