(Nicholas)
I pulled Elara down the corridor, her anger practically radiating off her. "Elara, please, just let me explain!" I said, trying to keep my voice low. I needed her to understand, to calm down before everything spiraled out of control.
"Explain what, Nicholas?" She shot back, her voice tight. "That you're still tangled up in your mess with Isabella? That you can't make up your mind?"
"It's not like that," I insisted, quickening my pace to keep up with her. She was furious, and I knew I had to tread carefully. "I messed up, okay? I didn't mean to hit her. It just... happened in the heat of the moment."
"Don't give me that!" Elara snapped, turning to face me. "You have no idea how much I've sacrificed for you. I've been patient while you dealt with your 'princess' problem. And what do I get? You running back to her when things get tough?"
"It's not about her!" I said, my frustration boiling over. "I'm trying to figure things out, and yes, I messed up with Isabella. But I want to be with you. You have to believe me!"
She stared at me, her eyes searching mine for sincerity. I took a deep breath, willing her to see how much I cared. "I'm sorry I hurt you by being caught up in all of this. You mean more to me than you realize. I can't lose you too."
Elara crossed her arms, still looking unsure. "You think that's enough? Just saying you're sorry?"
I stepped closer, closing the gap between us. "No, I don't just want to say it. I want to show you."
"I'm not interested in being some second choice, Nicholas," She replied, but there was a softness in her tone that gave me hope.
"Then let me prove it," I pleaded, my heart racing as I reached for her hand. "Let me show you how much you matter to me."
She hesitated, glancing down at my hand before meeting my eyes again. "And how do you plan to do that?"
"By not letting you walk away. Not now, not ever," I said. "Let's just go somewhere and talk. No distractions. Just you and me."
After a moment, she nodded, though her expression remained guarded. I led her to a quiet room on the far side of the palace. Once inside, I shut the door and turned to her.
"I know I've messed up, but I can't lose you, Elara," I said, my voice low. "Not to Isabella, not to anyone."
Her eyes softened slightly, and I took a step closer. "You're everything I want. I just need to make you understand how serious I am about us."
"Do you really mean that?" She asked, hearing the vulnerability in her voice.
"More than anything." I reached for her waist, pulling her close. "You deserve to know how much you matter to me. I want to show you, right now."
Before she could reply, I leaned in and kissed her, pouring all my feelings into that one moment. To my relief, she responded, her body melting against mine as she kissed me back.
I deepened the kiss, and soon we were lost in each other, all that mattered was her. I felt her fingers tangle in my hair as she pressed herself closer, the heat between us rising.
As we pulled apart, breathless, I searched her eyes. "I won't let anything come between us again. Just say the word, and I'll fight for us."
"Okay," She whispered, a hint of a smile playing at her lips.
I took her hand and led her to the bed. The tension between us was electric, charged with everything we had been through. I pushed her down gently, following her down, my heart racing as I hovered above her.
"Are you sure about this?" I asked.
She nodded, her eyes sparkling with desire. "I've never been more sure."
With that, I captured her lips again, the fire igniting between us once more. I felt her body arching against mine, and it sent a lot of need coursing through me. I kissed her deeper, pouring my emotions into every movement. I was desperate to make her feel how much she meant to me, how wrong I'd been to let things get so complicated.
I trailed kisses down her neck, feeling her shiver beneath my touch. The soft fabric of her dress was too much between us, a barrier I wanted to remove. My hands found the hem, and I hesitated for a moment, looking into her eyes to make sure she was still with me.
"Together?" I asked, my voice low and earnest.
"Together," She breathed, and that was all the encouragement I needed. I lifted the fabric, exposing her soft skin, and my heart raced at the sight. I couldn't help but touch her, feeling the warmth of her body beneath my fingertips.
She gasped softly as I kissed my way back up to her lips, her hands roaming my back, pulling me closer. The connection we shared was intoxicating, and I could feel her desire matching my own.
I paused, my forehead resting against hers as I caught my breath. "You have no idea how much I've wanted this," I murmured, my voice filled with emotion.
"I think I do," She replied. "But I need to know you're really here for me."
"I'm right here," I said, my voice steady and sincere. "And I won't let anything tear us apart."
With that promise hanging in the air, I leaned back down to kiss her, and it felt like the world outside melted away. The only thing that mattered was the way her body responded to mine, the way her breath quickened as I explored every inch of her.
The kisses turned heated, and soon we were tangled in sheets, lost in the warmth of each other's skin.
My hands roamed her curves, memorizing every line and every sigh. I wanted to worship her, to make her feel cherished. I pulled away for a moment, gazing into her eyes, filled with awe and affection. "You're beautiful, you know that?"
Elara blushed, her cheeks turning a soft pink. "And you're the one who made me feel this way."
"Then let me show you," I promised, and without hesitation, I dove back in, our bodies melding together in a way that felt so right. The past didn't matter anymore; all that existed was the here and now.
Every kiss, every caress felt like a promise of what was to come, a future that I was desperate to hold onto.
In that moment, with Elara beneath me, I knew that I would fight for her, for us, no matter what. This was where I belonged.