“What about what I did?” She looked up at him. “What about the fact that I tried to leave you?”
He shook his head. “You tried to escape because you were scared. That’s okay. I would have done the same thing if I was in your shoes.”
Her breath caught in her throat again as she stared at him. Was he really willing to forgive her? Was he really going to marry her?
“But...” Her eyes searched his. “What about everything else? What about what I said?”
He held out a finger and she went silent as he began to speak.
“What you said about not loving me?” He cocked his head, his eyes soft on her. “I know you lied, Celine.” She blinked at him in shock and his smile grew wider.
“I could see it in your eyes that night. I could feel it in my heart.” He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “I know you love me, Celine. You do.”
Her voice was lost as she stared at him, her heart pounding in her chest. Could he really tell? She didn’t think he could. But he just smiled and continued.
“What you said about your dad’s death.” He sighed and closed his eyes. “It was not your fault, Celine.” Her eyes went wide again.
“I was there that night, I saw what happened. I know it was not you. I know that’s why you’re afraid of me.” He opened his eyes and looked at her again.
“But why do you still want to marry me?” She frowned up at him and he pulled her onto his lap.
“I love you.” He cradled her head in his hands as she looked down at him in confusion.
“You’re my everything, Celine. The only person who can make me feel alive. Without you, my life is meaningless. I don’t want to live without you anymore. I want you to be mine.”
Her body shook as she stared down at him, the look in his eyes making her chest tighten.
“You want me to be yours?” She whispered and he nodded.
“Yes,” he whispered back. “I do, Celine. Just you. Only you.”
Celine’s heart slammed in her chest as she stared at his face. She didn’t know how it was possible, but here was her devil, kneeling before her and asking her to be his wife. He wanted her to be with him for the rest of his life.
She didn’t know if he really believed her or if he just wanted her that badly, but what did it matter? She loved him. She loved the devil just as much as he loved her. She loved his darkness. She loved everything about him.
He looked up at her and she could see his heart pounding in his chest, his hands shaking as they held her face.
“Will you marry me, Celine?” He asked again, his eyes burning into hers as he stared at her.
She nodded and his breath caught, his body jerking as he pulled her tighter.
“You will?” He whispered against her ear.
“Yes, Armand, I’ll marry you.” She spoke softly. “I love you, too.”
His hands tightened around her as he pulled her even closer, crushing their bodies together as he pulled her down onto the bed.
His lips found hers in the dark and she could feel his heart pounding against hers. She knew he wasn’t going to let her go now.
He wasn’t going to ever let her go again. And she knew she would never want him to. He was her everything just as she was his.
She was going to stay with him forever and ever. And nothing was going to take them apart ever again.
Nothing in the world could stop them now. Not even death itself could stop their love. Nothing was going to come between them ever again.
This time, she knew it for sure, she had tamed the devil.
They spent the rest of the day together, their bodies entwined as they talked. Celine told him about everything she had gone through and all the lies she had been fed.
Armand listened to it all, his body holding her tighter as the hours went by. He couldn’t believe she had been through all that. He couldn’t believe no one had told her the truth before.
“I’m sorry, Celine,” he whispered in the end. “I didn’t know. I should have tried harder to find you.”
“You don’t have to apologize, Armand.” She pulled back and stared at him. “I knew nothing about it. I didn’t even know my father was still alive until the day I found out.” Her smile was soft on his.
“But now that you know, you can be there for him, right?”
Armand stared at her for a moment, his chest tightening. He hadn’t thought about that. Now that he knew the truth, he could be there for his old friend.
He could make sure he was okay and get him out of the hell hole he was in.
“Thank you, Celine,” his voice came out thick with emotion as he stared at her face. “I can be there for him now.”
Her smile was brighter on his. “Good, I’m glad.”
They talked for some more, about everything and nothing. Celine wanted to know all there was to know about him and he wanted to tell her everything.
But eventually, it came to an end.
“I need to go.” He looked down at his watch. “My men are waiting for me downstairs. I’ll be back before dinner.”
“Okay,” she whispered and nodded.
He held her tight before getting off the bed and heading to the bathroom. He took a quick shower, dressing in his usual attire of black pants, a black shirt, and a red tie.