Lucian stops me as I’m about to walk to my bedroom, his hand on my sleeve. Elena glances at the two of us and slips away, a sweet smile on her face.
Lucian looks nervous and stares down at his feet. “I… I just wanted to say sorry,” he says. “I caused so much trouble today, but you didn’t hesitate to help me. Not just that… I know Elena and you have been arguing. I know I came between you two, and I could’ve fixed everything if I’d just spoken up, if I told you the truth… but I didn’t.”
I place my hand on his shoulder and smile. “You’re my little brother, Lucian. I will always have your back. Always. I’m sorry I wasn’t someone you could confide in.”
He swallows hard and nods. “You—you’re okay with it? You’re not ashamed of me?”
I frown at him. “What? No. Why would I be? Nothing has even changed. You’re still my baby brother, Luce.”
He looks at me in confusion. “But, Alec… I’m gay. This isn’t a phase. I’ve tried all my life, but I’ll never be attracted to a woman. At some point, the world will find out.”
I smile at him. “Well, when you’re ready to tell the world, I’ll be right there with you, if that’s where you want me. I’m not very good at this, Luce. I’m just not. I don’t know what the right thing to say is. I don’t know what you need to hear. All I know is that you’re my brother, and I’ll always love you the same. I don’t care who you sleep with.” I narrow my eyes at him. “So long as it isn’t my wife.”
Lucian’s eyes are filled with tears, but he bursts out laughing. “You were worried about that, huh? Elena has always only ever had eyes for you. Always, Alec. I’m sorry I didn’t speak up sooner. She has a heart of gold, and she would never betray you.”
I’ve been married to Elena long enough to know that, yet I let my past blind me. I smile at Lucian and nod in acknowledgment.
“Does Mom know?” I ask carefully.
Lucian blanches and shakes his head, his expression anguished. “No.”
“Do you want to tell her?” Lucian looks at me, and the longing in his eyes is clear as day. “Do you want to tell her together?” I add.
He nods, and I ruffle his hair. It’s been so long since my little brother looked this cute. “Just say the word. Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be with you.”
Lucian nods. He hesitates before taking a step closer, throwing his arms around me suddenly. I stand there, frozen for a couple of seconds, before I hug my brother back.
He pulls away, visibly emotional. “I’m sorry,” he says. “Thank you. For today. For being there. I’m grateful to have you as my brother.”
He smiles tightly and turns to walk away, looking a little flustered. It seems like today’s events really took a toll on him. His usual confidence is completely absent, and I hate seeing him look so vulnerable.
I watch him walk down the stairs, and I can’t help but worry that Marcus scarred him. Even worse, I don’t know how to make it better.
I’m still worried about Lucian when I walk into my bedroom, stopping in my tracks at the sound of the shower. Elena… fuck. I’ve gone out of my way to make her feel like she’s nothing to me, like she is indeed a mere tool to me. I fucked up. Badly.
I undress quietly and hesitate before walking through the water curtain. Elena looks up at me in surprise, and I pause to look at her. She looks so fucking beautiful standing there, water running down her body. I’ve missed her. I’ve missed her body against mine, her smile.
I walk up to her and pause in front of her. She leans back against the wall and looks into my eyes. There’s no condemnation in her eyes, no pettiness, no I told you so’s. There are never any games with her, no keeping score. I should’ve known better. I should’ve known she wouldn’t betray me.
I move closer to her and bury my hand in her wet hair. Elena places her palms against my chest, sliding them up, until her arms are wrapped around my neck.
“Are you okay?” she asks. She should be gloating right now, showing off how much of a fucking idiot I am for not seeing the truth, for not believing her. She should be punishing me for the way I’ve treated her, my mistrust, the things I’ve said to her. But there’s none of that. All I see in those beautiful eyes of hers is concern. Concern for me.
I nod and take a step closer, until our bodies are flush against each other, the water pouring down on us.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I’ve been so fucking horrible to you, baby. I’ve ignored you, hurt you… I was punishing you for a crime you didn’t commit. This afternoon, when I followed you… Elena, I expected the worst.”
She nods knowingly and rises to her tiptoes. “I know. The look in your eyes when you saw me hugging Lucian on that hotel bed; it broke my heart. I saw the puzzle pieces fall together, but before it all clicked, I saw the pain in your eyes. Alec, I would never do that to you. I know you don’t believe in forever, but that’s what I promised you the day I agreed to marry you. I’m your wife, forever. You will always be the only one for me.”
I lean in, my lips brushing against hers, once, twice, before I kiss her, savoring her. The way she makes my heart race terrifies and thrills me all at once. I never expected to feel this strongly about her.
Elena rises and deepens our kiss, a moan escaping her lips. She runs her hands over my body; her touch eager, desperate. She pushes me against the wall, and I grin against her lips, turning us around instead.
I lift her into my arms and push her against the wall. Elena wraps her legs around me, her hands finding their way to my hair.
“Tell me you forgive me.”
Elena smiles and tightens her grip on my hair. “Then ask me for forgiveness, Alexander. Don’t command it.”
I drop my forehead to hers, my eyes falling closed. “Elena, will you forgive me for my stupidity? For the way I’ve treated you and hurt you? I have no excuse. All I can say is that I can’t stand the idea of any part of you belonging to someone else.”
She cups my cheek and raises my face to hers, her lips finding mine. She kisses me slowly, setting my heart ablaze. I exhale shakily when she pulls away. “I forgive you. I’m sorry for not telling you the truth. It wasn’t my story to tell.”
I nod and hold her tighter, pushing her against the wall harder. Her lips find mine, and the way she kisses me… fuck. She’s driving me insane and she knows it. I’m panting by the time I pull away.
“It’s time for the next act of our press performance,” I tell her.
Elena groans when I push up against her. The way she tilts her hips up in a silent bid for more makes me smile. “What act?” she asks, breathless.
She writhes against me, until she’s got the angle just right, and I slip into her. I groan and drop my forehead to hers. I’ll never get used to the feel of her. It’s been so fucking long. I’ve missed her. All this time that I stayed away, I was punishing myself more than her.
“The proposal,” I tell her. “A public proposal for the press. I can’t wait any longer, Elena. I want my ring on your finger.”
She smiles at me and tightens her grip on my hair. “I want nothing more, Alec.”
A thrill runs down my spine when she calls me Alec. It sounds so good coming from her lips. I grab her hips and pull back before slamming into her hard, the way she likes it. Her moans are like music to my ears.
“Forever, huh?”
Elena nods, a gasp escaping her lips when I thrust into her. I pull back again and look into her eyes.
“You’ll moan like this for me forever?”
Elena nods, and I push into her, giving her what she wants.
“Tell me, Elena. Will you always look at me this way? Will you always want me this way?”
She tightens her grip on my hair and nods. “Forever, Alec.”
I keep her on the edge, needing her with a desperation I’ve never felt before. I want all of her. I told her love would never be an option for us, but I want to be the one her heart belongs to, the only one she can see.
I lean in to kiss her, losing myself in her. The way she feels, the way she whispers my name. She’s perfect, in every way.
Elena’s breathing accelerates, and the way she pants and moans has me ready to come. “You’re so fucking beautiful,” I whisper against her lips.
“Alec,” she whispers. “I can’t…”
Her muscles contract around me, and the sounds she makes push me over the edge. I come deep inside her, her name on my lips.
I drop my forehead to hers, my eyes falling closed. Forever, huh? The thought both terrifies and excites me.
