Chapter 10 - THE KISS THAT CHANGED THE RULES
Declan took Kalantha to dinner at a small Italian restaurant in Brooklyn.
No private dining room.
No security men hovering beside the table.
No expensive spectacle.
Just pasta.
Wine.
And conversation.
Kalantha laughed more than she'd expected.
Declan told her about his childhood.
His mother.
His first job.
The way he'd learned to cook because his father believed every man should know how to feed himself.
Kalantha stared.
“You cook?”
Declan smiled.
“Very well.”
She laughed.
“I don't believe you.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Come over tomorrow. I'll prove it.”
She smiled.
“Maybe.”
After dinner, they walked beside the waterfront.
The city lights reflected across the river.
Declan stopped.
“Kalantha?”
She looked at him.
“Yes?”
He hesitated.
“I need to tell you something.”
Her heart raced.
“What?”
Declan took a breath.
“I've been in love with you for a long time.”
Kalantha went still.
He continued.
“But I know I haven't always treated you the way you deserved.”
Her eyes filled.
“I know.”
Declan nodded.
“I can't undo that.”
She looked down.
He continued.
“But I can do better.”
Kalantha looked at him.
“Declan, love isn't enough if it comes with control.”
He nodded.
“I know.”
She swallowed.
“And I won't go back to living under your rules.”
“I wouldn't ask you to.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Declan asked:
“May I kiss you?”
Kalantha's heart raced.
She looked at him.
Then smiled.
“Yes.”
He kissed her gently.
Not possessively.
Not urgently.
Just a kiss.
Warm.
Careful.
Full of everything they'd been afraid to say.
When they stepped apart, Kalantha laughed softly.
“What?”
Declan smiled.
“Nothing.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“You look surprised.”
He chuckled.
“I am.”
“Why?”
He looked at her.
“Because you chose me.”
Kalantha smiled.
May you like
Then took his hand.
And for the first time, she believed that perhaps love and freedom could exist together.
