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Falcone forced his eyelids open, only to close them again when he saw spots and a wave of dizziness overcame him. Burning pain tore into his shoulder. He lifted his arm to ease the ache and almost screamed when the agony overtook him.
He managed to open his eyes to see he lay in an unfamiliar room. When he went to rub his eyes, a heavy weight on his hand prevented him from doing so. He looked down to see fingers entwined with his. As his gaze rose higher, he saw Eden lying next to him, clinging to his hand as if she feared she had lost him.
Then the nightmare flooded back to him. The horror of the evening played out in slow motion. His fear of Lady Ravencroft pointing the gun in Eden’s direction was the most frightening experience of his life. The life he had planned for them had flashed before him. When Lady Ravencroft pulled the trigger in his direction, Falcone had only felt relief that Lady Ravencroft spared Eden’s life. Her cries still echoed in his ears.
“I love you,” Falcone whispered before pain dragged him back under.
~~~~~
THE NEXT TIME FALCONE awoke, it was to find Eden staring at him, still clinging to his hand. Tears streamed along her cheeks.
“Ahh, love.” He groaned. “Why are you crying?”
“Because I almost lost you.”
He attempted to chuckle but winced at the pain. “It will take more than a bullet for you to lose me.”
Eden lifted their hands to her lips and kissed his palm. “Do you promise?”
“Yes. Now come closer,” Falcone ordered.
“But your wound?”
“Is on the other side of my body. This side is perfectly healthy and aches for your touch,” Falcone argued.
Eden slid closer, and Falcone wrapped his good arm around her, squeezing softly. “Ahh, I have missed you so much. The past two weeks have been unbearable without you snarling at me.”
Eden slapped his chest. “Well, ‘tis your own fault for keeping your smirk away and not being honest with me.”
Falcone sighed. “I regret what we did. It wasn’t fair to you for what we put you through.”
“While it hurt when I discovered the truth, I understood the reasons behind your deceit.”
“I deceived you and all for what? To capture some lady who is so elusive, it is impossible.” Falcone scoffed.
Eden rolled over, being gentle so as not to disturb his wound. She caressed his face, easing away his stress. “Enough about Lady Langdale. There is something I wish to declare.”
Falcone pressed his finger against her lips. “I can wait until you are ready. Do not utter them now out of fear of losing me. Declare them when your heart is ready.”
“Falcone,” Eden snarled at his interruption.
Falcone smirked. “Lady Eden.” He chuckled at her expression. It was one of confliction. He loved when he ruffled her emotions. “Eden?”
Her reply was to press her lips against his in a soft kiss that warmed the heart, with soft slow strokes of their tongues, meeting and pulling away to intertwine.
“Victor.”
He stared at her with his eyes heavy with desire. “Mmm.”
“I love you with all my heart. You are the other half of my soul that I have kept at arm’s length all these years because of the emotions you brought to the surface that frightened me. Emotions I wish to share with you every day for the rest of our lives.”
“Ahh, love. I never realized it then, but I believe you stole my heart the very first time we met and you called me out for my rakish ways. I love you, Eden Worthington, to the depths of my soul,” Falcone declared.
Eden gazed adoringly into Victor’s eyes, just the way he had imagined she would when they admitted to their feelings. It was a look he would spend a lifetime cherishing for her to bestow on him.
“Just so you know, my brother is aware I snuck into your bedchamber. So he might force you to take me for your bride. You understand how servants talk. There is sure to be a scandal over my visit,” Eden warned with a smile.
“Then perhaps we should make sure a scandal occurs. I wouldn’t want the whispers to be false,” Victor suggested.
A wicked smile lifted Eden’s lips. She sat up and slipped the nightgown over her head, bringing forth a groan from Victor. “An excellent idea, Falcone.” Eden swept the blanket off him as her gaze raked his form. “An excellent idea indeed.”
“Victor,” he growled.
And his demand was granted as they brought each other pleasure with their lovemaking.
Victor didn’t know what he ever did to deserve the love of a glorious vixen. He only knew that he would never take life for granted again. Each day he would spend thanking his lucky stars for being able to love Eden. The gift of her love was a welcoming balm for his past mistakes and the guilt that plagued him. With her love, his soul found redemption.
Eden cried as she lay wrapped in Victor’s warm embrace. They were tears of happiness. Victor’s love washed away her fears, her loneliness, the bitterness she clung to so she would never get hurt. He gifted her with the security she had always longed for. He wiped away her tears and murmured how much he cherished her. She rejoiced at the love overflowing from her heart. With his love, she was able to free herself from every fear imaginable.
Because love held the magical touch of making anything possible.