When They Beg I Rise (Lemira) novel Chapter 1113

Lemira stared up at the man standing flush against her, her heart hammering against her ribs.

The truth was, she had always been in love with him. That feeling had never faded.

Especially after realizing that Orion had been just as devoted to her in her past life. She had actually been given the chance to escape the Langston family's toxic cage back then, but she had been too cowardly to take it.

He was the only man who had shown her unconditional kindness across two lifetimes.

When the car crash happened, he was the one who pulled her from the wreckage.

She was hopelessly in love with him.

The proximity between them was suffocating in the best way possible, the air growing thick with heavy, electric tension.

Orion kept his gaze trained on the hallway. "I think he's gone."

Instead of stepping back, Lemira went up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. It was purely an impulse—she just desperately wanted to kiss him.

Orion froze entirely, his eyes widening in pure shock as he looked down at her.

When she was drunk last night, he hadn't taken her advances seriously. But now, perfectly sober, she was initiating a kiss. Did this mean she was finally ready to let him in?

His Adam's apple bobbed. Without a second thought, he wrapped his arms around her, caging her against his body.

He dipped his head, his voice a gravelly whisper against her lips. "Lemmy, if you kiss me, you're going to have to commit to this."

"And what if I just felt like kissing you and don't want to commit?"

The moment the words left her mouth, his hands gripped her waist, the pressure possessive and firm. "Not an option. I just made a promise to your parents that I'd take care of you. If you try to run now, I'll have to go back and tattle on you."

Lemira was speechless.

She looked up into his mesmerizing eyes. "I broke up with you before because you lied to me."

"I know."

"I brought up breaking up multiple times. Doesn't that piss you off?"

Looking back, Lemira knew she was fiercely guarded and deeply insecure when it came to relationships.

It was the reason she had been so hot and cold with him, pushing him away the moment she felt vulnerable.

Orion gently pinched her cheek. "As long as you're aware of it. Consider your punishment a lifetime ban on ever mentioning the word 'breakup' again."

"Sounds perfect."

Hand in hand, they strolled down the sunlit pavement, their shadows blending together perfectly.

A few yards away, parked inconspicuously on the street, a pair of dark, obsessive eyes tracked their every move from behind a tinted car window.

Lemira suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. She glanced over her shoulder.

Orion followed her line of sight. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, it's nothing. Just my imagination."

Lemira shook her head and looked back at Orion, a brilliant smile lighting up her face.

Maybe she didn't need to be so constantly on edge anymore.

They headed out for an early dinner, stopping at a charming little restaurant she used to frequent. The food tasted exactly as comforting as she remembered.