Chapter 20: The Moment She Stopped Running

Anastasia didn't sleep that night.

She sat by the open window, the crisp night air brushing against her skin, her heart pounding erratically in her chest as she replayed everything that happened.

Everything he had said.

"You belong with me Anastasia ".

It shouldn't have made her feel like this.

Like her world have shifted.

Like she was no longer standing on steady ground.

Because the truth was that she had already known.

Deep down, she had felt it long ago before he put it into words.

Every touch, every stolen glance, every moment where his presence wrapped around her like an invisible force ___ she had felt it.

And she was tired of fighting it.

Tired of pretending she didn't want what had already become inevitable.

With a deep breath, she let the letter slip from her fingers,watching as the wind carried it away, into the night, disappearing into the darkness.

Just like her thoughts and fears.

Because she had already made her choice.

And it was him.

The next morning.

Leonidas stood by the stables, his broad frame bathed in the soft glow of the early morning sun.

His shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, the sleeves rolled up, exposing the strong tanned lines of his forearms.

His hair was slightly tousled from the breeze, his stance relaaaxed ___but tense.

Like a man waiting for a battle he couldn't control.

He didn't turn when she approached.

Didn't move.

But she could feel the way his body honed in on her presence, the way his shoulder muscles flex and tightened just slightly as she stepped closer.

And then ___softly ___

"I'm not going anywhere "

She muttered, almost speaking to herself.

The words were quite.

But they might as well have been a shout.

Because, he heard them, perfect and clear.

She saw the way his breath hitched. And the way his hands clenched at his sides.

And then he turned.

His dark eyes locked onto hers, searching, waiting.

"Say it again," he murmured, his voice low, hoarse, strained.

Anastasia's breath stilled, but she didn't falter.

"I'm not leaving ."

The silence that stretched between them was thick, charged, and heavy.

Then __

Leonidas moved.

One second, there was space between them.

The next _there wasn't.

And then __ his mouth was on hers.

Hot, hungry, and unrelenting.

Anastasia gasp, her fingers fisting in his shirt as he devour her, as if he has been holding himself back for far too long ___ and had finally snapped.

She didn't know who moved first ___ if she had pressed against him, or if he had pulled her closer.

But suddenly, her body was flush against his, she almost yelped, the heat of his skin searing through the thin fabric of her dress.

His hands were everywhere __ skimming down her back, gripping down her hips, possessive, demanding.

She moaned into his mouth, and the sound made him growl__ a deep primal noise that sent a shiver running down her spine.

He backed her up against the stable wall, caging her in, his body pressing into hers. All hard muscles and heat and dominance.

"Say it again," he muttered against her lips,his breath hot, his voice almost desperate.

She could barely breath.

Could barely think.

But somehow she did.

" I'm not leaving," she whispered, her voice shaking.

And that was it.

That was all it took.

Leonidas let out a curse, his lips crashing onto hers, his hands gripping her thighs, he lifting effortlessly as she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist.

She felt the hardness of him against her center, felt the way his body trembled slightly as he held her up__ as if he was barely restraining himself.

" God Anastasia," he groaned, pressing his forehead against hers, breathing raggedly.

" You drive me insane."

She shivered at the rawness in his voice.

At the need.

Her own pulse was thundering, and her whole body was aching for more.

For him, which frightened her, and immediately her cheeks burned with embarrassment at the shameful way she moaned and clung to him.

She barely registered the way he carried her inside, barely noticed anything but he felt, the way he kissed her, the way he made her feel weightless in his arms.

Then __

Soft sheets.

Warmth.

In an instant, Leonidas was hovering above her, his obsidian eyes turning a shade darker, filled with something almost dangerous.

But not dangerous in the way she had once feared.

Dangerous in a way that made her want to surrender completely.

His fingers gently, carefully trailed down her collar bone, down to the thin straps of dress, his fingers tingling , itching to pull them down,tugging them down slowly.

His lips followed.

Hot, opened mouthed.

Kissing..

Tasting...

He pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder, then to the curve of her neck, his breath sending shivers and goose bumps over her skin.

" You are mine now," he murmured incoherently, his voice rough with restraint.

Her breath caught.

She should have been scared of that claim.

She should have denied it.

But she didn't.

Because it was true.

She wanted it to be.

Her fingers tangled in his hair, to her surprise, as if they have a mind of their own,pulling him back to her lips, a silent answer.

A silent yes.

And when he kissed her again __

It wasn't careful.

It wasn't gentle.

It was everything.