Dimitri’s POV
I couldn’t wait to go back to my office.
My arms were burning with a need to hold her. I was in pain knowing that she was in pain. I couldn’t wait to get there and hug her. I missed her so much. I had nine months’ worth of needing her and wanting her to compensate. Being away from her even for a few minutes was a complete waste of my time.
I finally reached my office and opened the door. Her scent filled my lungs and my body relaxed completely.
She looked up at me and smiled.
“Princess,” I mumbled as I closed the door and rushed to her.
My heart melted when she reached out for me. I groaned quietly when I finally touched her. I pulled her to me and hugged her tightly. I placed a hand on her head and kissed her temple.
“Does it hurt?” I asked and she shook her head.
“Not anymore,” she said and I smiled.
I looked at Will and saw him grinning at me. I rolled my eyes at him.
“Can you please go downstairs and make sure that everything is going smoothly?” I asked as I ran my fingers through Maddie’s hair.
“Of course,” Will said. “Do you need anything else?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “I will see you tomorrow.”
Will nodded and looked at Maddie. He smiled a little.
“Bye, Mads,” he said and she looked up at him.
“Goodbye, Will,” she said, smiling back at him.
I couldn’t help but caress her cheek. She was so fucking beautiful that I needed to touch her to make sure that she was real.
I still couldn’t believe that she was mine.
I heard Will walking away, but I never moved my eyes from Maddie. I couldn’t stop looking at her. I simply couldn’t get enough of her.
I heard the door close and Maddie looked at me. She lifted her hand and cupped my cheek. My heart raced and I leaned more into her touch. My whole body was trembling and my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest. She was studying my face for a few moments before she leaned in and kissed me.
My heart fucking stopped beating.
I groaned and tangled my fingers into her hair. I pressed her closer and deepened the kiss.
It was the first time she initiated it and I was sure that I would explode with happiness.
She stopped kissing me, but she didn’t move away. She leaned her forehead against mine and took a deep breath.
“I am sorry, Dimitri,” she said quietly and my breath got caught in my throat.
What was she sorry about? Did she kiss me like that because she was going to leave me?
No, no, no, no!
I tightened my hold on her. She reached out and ran her fingers through my hair.
“I am sorry for trying to reject you when I found out,” she said quietly. “I am sorry for the way I’ve been acting. I just…”
She stopped talking and took a deep breath.
I relaxed a little. She wasn’t leaving me. Not that I would let her, but it was nice to know that she wanted me as well.
“I am angry at Mike,” she continued. “I didn’t want to stay here. I didn’t want to be near him. I wanted to leave this pack from the moment I was told that I would be living here.”
She lifted her head a little and caressed my cheek.
“I tried to reject you because I wanted to run away from Mike and I am so sorry about that,” she added. “You didn’t deserve that and I will spend the rest of my life making up for it.”
I sighed in relief and kissed her softly.
“I love you, Madeline,” I mumbled against her lips. “You have nothing to make up for. You made up for it the moment you stayed and let me love you.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me hard. I tightened my hold on her and pulled her on my lap. She straddled me and my heart started beating faster.
“I love you too,” she said quietly after she stopped kissing me.
My eyes widened and I was completely sure that I would pass out from excitement. Hearing her say that was like injecting myself with the best drug in the whole fucking world. It was addicting and I wanted more.
“Say it again,” I mumbled as I leaned my forehead against hers. “Please say it again.”
“I love you,” she repeated and smiled a little.
Something between a groan and a sob escaped my lips. I kissed her again, tangling my fingers into her hair and pressing her as close to me as I could. I could feel her smiling and I couldn’t help but do the same. The happiness I felt was hard to describe.
We stopped kissing and I hugged her tightly. She hugged me back and took a deep breath.
“I am so sorry about Mike, princess,” I said quietly. “He made a huge mistake when he left you. I was so angry at him when he told me that he had a daughter and a mate and that he left them. Mates and children are a gift from the Goddess and they should be cherished.”
Maddie stopped hugging me. She looked at me and nodded.
“I almost made the same mistake my father did,” she mumbled quietly.
I caressed her cheek and smiled.
“Good thing I am stubborn,” I said, chuckling. “I wasn’t going to let you do it. I was never going to let you leave me.
Maddie smiled and placed another soft kiss on my lips.
“Thank you for being stubborn,” she said, making me chuckle.
I kissed her soft lips and her cheek. I pulled her back into a hug and held her tightly.
“Are you tired, princess?” I asked. “Do you want to go to our room?”
She nodded and I smiled. I couldn’t stop smiling and I couldn’t wait to lie next to her.
I tried to let go of her so we could stand up and leave the office, but she tightened her hold on me and made herself comfortable.
“Five more minutes,” she mumbled quietly and I laughed.
I tightened my hold on her and kissed her temple.
“Okay, my princess,” I said, chuckling. “Five more minutes.”
It was like she thought that I wouldn’t be holding her just like this when we got to our room. I would always hold her just like this. I would never let go of her. It was impossible for me to do so. She was a part of my body and soul and I would never let her go.
