47. Chapter 47

Chapter forty-seven

H aven almost screamed in frustration, swearing Nik to hell and back. She couldn't believe he was actually going to stand there and deny every peaceful moment that had happened between them. Yes, most of them were shrouded in something hateful but hate wasn't the only thing between them. In between all the jaded words and snide remarks there'd been soft glances, sweet accidental touches. Haven saw the way he looked at her when he thought no one was looking. She knew he spied on her training sessions and on her library searches. Hate and reluctant attraction were not the only things he felt for her and she was going to prove it.

Haven pressed the front of her body against his, taking in every little reaction. She tilted her face to the side where her lips could connect with the shell of his ear. She heard his breath hitch, felt the pounding of his heart against her chest. Taking a shallow breath, Haven whispered,

"Liar"

Before he could blink, Haven brought a knee up between his legs. As soon as she made contact, Nik released his arm around her waist with a huff of pain. Now that it wasn't pinned to the door, she brought her arm up between them and shoved him further away. Nik promptly grabbed onto the edge of the couch, doubling over.

Taking a moment to step deeper into his room, Haven noticed a silencing candle sitting unlit on his desk. Sending a wisp of fire over to it, the wick caught flame and a thick bubble of unseen magic spread over them.

"How dare you!" She yelled at Nik who was still hunched over in pain. Deciding she couldn't look and yell at him while he was in pain, Haven turned. Now she could see out his window into the night air. She focused her attention there as she expelled her next words,

"How dare you pretend like there's nothing going on here! Do you take me for a fool? Or are you just so arrogant that you think no one could ever notice your stolen little glances or the way you sneak around the library while I'm having lunch, pretending like you're some sort of shadow no one can see!" Haven took a deep breath and lowered her voice before continuing, "I don't know why you are so set against me. Maybe you really care more about losing your crown than I thought, maybe you're afraid dear old dad will come after you for loving someone other than yourself or maybe you don't even know. "

Haven finally turned back to him, finding that Nik had righted himself and was looking at her with more emotion than she even thought possible.

"Haven," He started.

"Don't." She told him softly, "If what you are about to say is more lies or excuses then I don't want to hear it. The truth or nothing"

Nik nodded. He paused for a second, contemplating. Taking a step closer, Haven noticed a tear trailing down his cheek. She hadn't meant to make him cry, all she wanted was the truth.

Now that he was a bit closer, Haven noticed something she hadn't before. While she'd been in his room with him shirtless before, there hadn't been a candle lit and she hadn't been able to properly use her enhanced sight. Among the dark lines and swirls of his tattoos were scars, possibly hundreds. Some were small, some were big, long, short, deep, shallow. There were all sorts. There even appeared to be a burn mark or two. Before Haven could say anything, Nik rushed forward, yanking her to him and kissing her roughly.

"You want the truth?" He asked, between kisses. Haven nodded

"Here it is," Nik told her. Reaching to take her hands, he placed them on his chest over a mess of scars, tattoos and his heart.

*NIK*

The feeling of Havens hands where they gently rested over his heart warmed Nik from the inside out. As much as he loved the feeling of them, he'd placed them there for a purpose. She was about to ask about his scars, a conversation Nik wasn' t quite ready for.

Havens lips melded against his, lighting a fire in Niks body and sending whatever hesitations he held out the window. Nik may not have had a plan when he first kissed her, other than to keep her from asking questions he wasn't ready to answer, but now that he had her in his arms, he wasn't intending on letting her go.

Nik pulled at the robe keeping her body from him, slipping it over her shoulders. He paused, tearing his lips from hers and taking her in.

She was stunning, even more so than the night of the ball. That night, she'd been all made up, prim and proper but now here she was, bare faced, in nothing more than a slip of a night dress. Nik knew he'd never seen anything more beautiful. Haven shifted on her feet slightly, giving away her self conscious feelings. Niks brow furrowed,

"You are the most beautiful thing I have ever had the pleasure of seeing." He told her, meaning every word.

A rosy blush appeared across her cheeks and her hands tightened their hold on him.

"Kiss me again" She whispered

Nik obliged, crashing his lips back to hers. Reaching down, he wrapped his arms around her thighs and hoisted her up against him. Her hands moved to knot themselves in the hair at the base of his neck and her ankles crossed behind his back.

Haven tugged on his hair slightly, pulling a groan from Nik he hadn't known he was holding back. Walking them over to his bed, Nik dropped Haven down and watched her bounce on his mattress. Prowling on top of her, Nik found he quite liked having her in this position .

Haven whimpered as Nik placed hot, open mouthed kisses along her jaw and then down her neck. Nik may not have known it then but the sound of her whimpers erased years he spent feeling like he would never be enough.

Haven spread her legs, wrapping them around his waist and pulling his body flush with hers.

The feeling of his cock being so near her wet heat was unlike anything he'd ever experienced. He may be a virgin but he'd messed around with women before and none of them had ever felt like this, quite this right .

Nik propped one arm beside Havens head, the other slid down to grip her hip. Next, Niks mouth reconnected with Havens, sending more fireworks throughout his body. Before he could sense what she was doing, Haven flipped the two of them. Her body hovered over where he wanted her the most.

Smirking like she knew exactly what she was doing to him, Haven moved his hands to the edge of her chemise, nodding to give him permission. Nik knew he wanted Haven, it was as simple as breathing to him. He wanted her like the flowers wanted sunlight, like birds wanted flight.

Maybe it wasn't want that he felt so strongly, maybe it was need. Nik hesitated, uniting them like this simply didn't seem right given his plans. Sleeping with her now felt like he would be promising a future he could never deliver. He knew that no matter how much he wished it was different, they'd never be able to be together, to have a future. Nik would make sure of it.

Haven must have sensed his hesitation because she spoke quietly into the silence,

"We don't have to do anything you don't want to"

He nodded. Her hands still rested over his where they were anchored at her hips, chemise in clutch. Stopping didn't seem right. He might not be able to fuck her properly but there was plenty more they could do to quell this desire between them.

His hands tightened their hold on her skimpy night dress. He was tempted to rip the thing to shreds but he had a feeling that after the lust wore off, Haven would be pissed that Nik destroyed another outfit of hers. Instead, he grinded himself against her, earning a feral moan from her.

"What do you want?" Haven asked

"You," Nik responded, "Just you"