<h4>Chapter 139: First Kiss</h4>


    Roman’s POV


    The pets had all settled into their ces for the night. Vixen curled up in her newly gifted bed, Fluffy nestled faithfully beside her, and the little hamster, round with overeating,y sprawled in the small basket I had brought him in, sleeping as though he were dead to the world.


    We headed to my room. Though we had the guest room ready—the one she stayed in when we first brought her here—the fear of leaving her alone and her ending up doing something to herself didn’t allow us to keep her there. We settled that she was going to stay in my room, as she was morefortable with me, and I had marked her as well.


    Once inside the room, I didn’t really know how to go about it. But I decided it was time to take a step ahead, at least one step at a time.


    She sat at the edge of the bed, her attention fixed on the photograph Lucian had gifted her. The frame rested lightly in her hands, her gaze distant yet intent.


    "It will look perfect on the bedside table," I told her as I sat beside her. "Lucian will bring more. Maybe we can arrange them on the wall, in smaller frames. How about on this side?" I pointed to the bare stretch of wall.


    She followed the direction of my hand, silent, though I could see her already picturing it.


    "We’ll take some of your pictures too," I added gently. "With your pets. And yes, with Vixen’s babies as well."


    Once again, I had leaned on her pets—and Alice—to draw her attention, to stir some reaction from her. But that was fine. I believed, in time, things would change.


    "Give it to me," I said, extending my hand.


    Her fingers tightened around the frame, clutching it as though I meant to take it from her entirely.


    "I’m only going to set it on the bedside table, on your side," I assured her softly.


    She handed it over to me and I moved to keep it on the side table.


    Since her sessions with the doctor, and after the drug test, she had stoppedshing out. Her defiance had given way to obedience—gentler, quieter. But I could not tell how long it wouldst, nor when the storm within her might break free again.


    As I settled back, I decided it was time to speak. "Eira, you do know I marked you."


    She gave no response, her gaze fixed nkly on the floor.


    Gently, I reached for her hand and drew her toward me, turning her so she faced me. "Look at me."


    Her eyes lifted atst, meeting mine, but there was nothing in them—no anger, no warmth, just emptiness.


    "Please, listen to me," I murmured, my voice steady, my thumb brushing over her cold skin as I cupped her cheek. "Don’t shut me out. Don’t block me from reaching you."


    Her silence pressed heavy against me, yet I continued. "I know you are hurt. I know you are wounded. And I know it is our fault. You may never forgive us—that’s fine. We will keep asking for forgiveness until the end of our lives if we must."


    She did not stir, her expression unreadable, as though my words had slipped past her without meaning. It was frustrating, but I swallowed it down. We deserved this. Every one of us.


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    "I want you to understand," I said softly, my eyes never leaving hers, "the world is not the same as the one you endured these past six years. Not everyone is like that. You don’t have to remain the same either. You can be yourself with us."


    Even now, silence was all she gave me in return.


    "The things that hurt you—they won’t be the same with us," I promised. "And I want to show you that, slowly, step by step." I leaned closer until my face hovered just inches from hers. My voice lowered, a vow carried on my breath. "Though I have marked you, I will never mate with you unless you truly want it. But one day, I will make sure you do."


    She did not recoil. She did not even blink. Perhaps my nearness was not foreign to her, or perhaps she was simply too used to such closeness after the life she had endured.


    "Don’t treat me like those men, alright?" I whispered, though I wasn’t sure if the words even reached her. "You will see it’s not the same with me. You will know how much I love you, how much you mean to me."


    I searched her eyes, hoping for some flicker of feeling, but found only emptiness.


    "I wish to kiss my mate tonight," I breathed, leaning closer. "Is that too much to ask?"


    Her hand moved instinctively toward the buttons of her dress, just as she had done that night. My heart clenched. I caught her hand gently, stopping her before she could begin.


    "I’m not your customer," I whispered against her lips. "I am your mate, Eira. Just a kiss will do."


    Lifting my hand, I brushed it softly over her eyes. "Close your eyes."


    If she kept her eyes opened, she will just stare somewhere nkly. But, I wanted her to feel it, feel me, our closeness without losing her mind somewhere.


    She obeyed, sitting still as stone, hershes lowering, her body rigid as if carved from marble.


    "Trust me," I murmured. "You will like it."


    I tilted her face gently toward mine, my hands cradling her as though she were something precious and fragile. Her skin was cool beneath my palms, but the simple act of touching her filled me with a warmth that spread through my chest.


    For a long moment I hesitated, my lips hovering just a breath away from hers. I wanted her to feel my intent—not desire born of need, not hunger like the men who had wronged her—but the kind of love that carried patience, devotion, and reverence.


    Slowly, I closed the distance.


    My lips brushed hers with the barest touch, softer than a sigh, like the first fall of snow upon the earth. There was no urgency, no force—only the delicate pressure. I lingered there, savoring the way her breath mingled with mine, the faint tremble of her body against me.


    Her lips remained still, but I didn’t mind it. Slowly, I captured them into mine, sucking and nibbling them softly, taking turn on them tenderly, as though to tell her she was cherished, that with me she would never again be treated like a thing to be used.


    I wished to urge her to kiss me back. But that would be too much to ask for.


    Her lips soft and tender, felt like nothing I had tasted before. It took me every bit of restraint to surpassed the urge to deepen the kiss. I didn’t want toe out as a lustful bastard.


    After a while, when I pulled back, it was not sudden. My lips lingered, as if reluctant to part, before I let the space grow between us again.


    I kept my forehead resting lightly against hers, my thumb tracing the curve of her cheek, whispering through touch what my words could not carry.


    She still had her eyes closed, a little breathless despite I tried my best to be gentle and keep it to her lips only.


    "Let’s sleep now," I said and guided her to her ce to lie down.


    From her eyes or expressions I couldn’t tell if she felt even a bit of that kiss. I covered her with sheets and sat at the edge once more.


    I pecked on her forehead gently and whispered, "Good night. Sleep well."


    She closed her eyes, probably assured that we were not going to do anything more.


    Though this wasn’t the way I wanted our first kiss to be, but it was fine. We will reach there one day. For now these slow steps meant a lot already.


    I waited by her side until I was sure she was in deep sleep and then I decided to go back to my brothers, who were probably ready to drown themselves in alcohol.


    Bastards would be happy to see me back, despite preparing themselves to ept the fact that I had to mate with her.


    Now wasn’t the time.