Chapter 110

110. Angel He leans forward and gently kisses the tip of my nose while his hands spread the cream all over my back. My heart starts racing.

Ever since our first kiss five days ago, he has done it every chance he gets, making me doubt he truly hated kissing in the first place. Maybe he just didn’t want to kiss me, wanting Emily to be the last who touched his lips with hers.

There are still times when I wonder if he is with me only because of what he learned about Emily or if he genuinely cares for me.

When he finishes applying sunscreen on my back and legs, he taps my ass. “Turn around.”

I arrange the recliner of the chair so I can lean on it and turn face up. Immediately, Stefan’s eyes get glued to my chest. “Told you they are perfect,” he says before putting his mouth on my tit, kissing it, then doing the same to the other one. I highly doubt it, but it still feels nice to get compliments, especially now that my body is changing due to being pregnant.

His mouth trails up until it reaches mine, and he kisses me gently, taking care of his nose so as not to bump into mine.

“For a man who used to hate kissing, all of a sudden, it’s all you do,” I finally voice out my frustrations. At least part of it.

Putting some sunscreen on my belly, he says, “You did catch that, didn’t you?” I nod. “I can’t say I love kissing.... I never did.” He pauses for a moment, and I want to ask him why he does it with me then, he adds, looking straight into my eyes, “But I love it when we do it,” letting me know he is telling me the truth.

A smile appears across my face, and I straddle him, taking him by surprise. I tried to be angry at them, hate them even, but...I can’t. And now I am going to have their baby.... And they did treat me nicely these past weeks.... And... I might want to be with them even if they never asked for forgiveness, but they did show me through their acts that they are remorseful for everything they did to me. So maybe... maybe... I can let myself be happy with them?

“I think you are in luck because it so happens that I also like kissing,” I say against his lips.

He returns my smile before his lips cover mine, his fingers lacing through my hair. My hands reach for the hem of his t–shirt, wanting to feel more of him under my palms, but he stops me. Ever since Reyes gave him scars, he has been reluctant to show his torso. How bad can it be?

“The t–shirt stays,” he says.

But I have other ideas. “Show me.”

He still hesitates.

I understand him, as Carlos‘ torture has left marks on me as well, but my mates neyer mention them or make me think they are ugly.

“Are you hiding something from me?” I tease him, wanting to make him comfortable in his own skin.

His eyebrows shoot up. “How did you know?”

1/3 “Show me!” I demand with more urgency.

With a sigh, he removes his t–shirt, and my breath catches in my throat. Numerous scars cover his chest and stomach, but what brings tears to my eyes is the ‘Unworthy‘ and ‘Undeserving‘ carved on his skin. I wonder if this is why he removed his piercings.

“Reyes did this to you?” My voice trembles.

“The demons in the catacombs. The three days spent with them was an eternity, but I only made it because I thought of you the entire time.” His throat bobs. “I know you won’t believe me, but I think I am in love with you. I have been feeling like this for a while, but I’ve had a hard time accepting it. After everything that has happened, and especially after being with you in ways I haven’t been before, I don’t think I can hide my feelings anymore. Nor do I want to.”

His opening up to me like this, I don’t know what to think.

Alekos and Reyes were never shy about proclaiming their love for me, and I did not believe them, not after fucking with my head the way they did, but Reyes slaughtered those who tortured me.

If this is not love....

I might be sick in the head for being happy about it, but those men deserved to die.

And Alekos, except for that small incident with Giselle, has never shown any interest in any other woman, keeping his promise, of me being his only woman. For a man who fucked a new woman every two or three days and kept a sex journal, he is hard the moment he sees me.

If this is not love....

As for Stefan-

The scars are not the only things on his torso, but a new tattoo as well–Angel written across his chest in beautiful handwritten letters. My fingers trace it. He only got a small E tattoo for Emily, which I don’t see anymore, my name on his skin covering it. If this is not love....

“I will finish it in time for our Piercing Ceremony,” he promises.

The Piercing Ceremony. I haven’t thought of it since the night I poured all my frustrations and anger on Alekos in front of the Elders. Alekos and Reyes mentioned it to me several times, and if I got it correctly, it is a marriage ceremony.

“I still haven’t agreed to get pierced,” I huff.

Stefan kisses my chin.

“So what will it take for you to agree to be ours for all eternity?” Alekos‘ voice comes from behind me.