NIRELLE

"I missed this so much." I snuggled into Lucien's arms more than before; if it were possible, I might have even tried to enter his body. He kissed me gently on my hair, and I felt all the cells in my body respond.

"I am sorry that it had to hurt you this way."

"But you only did it because you had to," I murmur, my finger making continuous circles around his chest. "I know that if you didn't have to, then you wouldn't have done it."

His voice drops as he goes on. "I heard that bastard was going to try to rape you once more."

"Don't you...