Innocent - Roe Horvat Page 0,9

them.

He suppressed his annoyance and focused on Navid. His young husband still hadn’t lifted his face. Zana knelt by him and gently put a hand on his back. Navid sucked in a breath, but instead of an exhale, a sob came out.

“For-forgive…m-me.”

Navid’s broken words were like a knife in Zana’s already bleeding heart. Not knowing what else to do, he sat on the floor, wrapped his arms around the small body, and pulled him in his embrace. It’s the first time I’m holding him, and he’s scared of me. Zana squeezed his eyes shut as another stab of pain pierced his body.

He’d fallen in love with Navid quickly and recklessly, his emotions growing fast, unprecedented in their strength. He prided himself on how well he could read people and how good a judge of character he’d always been. It had been key to his success as a businessman. Navid was an open book, and Zana felt like he knew him. He’d been watching him for the past couple of months and only fallen harder. He was fairly sure Navid was drawn to him as well—as much as he could be. He was too young and innocent to know anything about love, wasn’t he? Zana breathed in the scent from Navid’s hair while wet tears stained his shoulder. Even though the boy was now his in front of god and by law, none of that meant Navid would ever love Zana back.

Navid shivered, broken sounds tearing out of his throat, loud and uncontrollable. He kept apologizing, but his words came out fragmented.

“My sweet darling,” Zana whispered. “Nothing is your fault. I’m not going to hurt you, my love. I would never hurt you.”

At that, Navid crumbled entirely. Body wrecked with violent sobs, he convulsed in Zana’s arms. Zana tucked Navid’s head into the crook of his shoulder, cupping his nape, and he stroked the slender back through the robe, up and down, slowly, then rubbing circles. He murmured into Navid’s ear, interspersing his words with soft kisses into his hair. “You never have to fear me, Navid. I’ve vowed to protect you, and I’ll keep my promise. I’d rather cut my heart out than cause you harm.”

“Forgive me,” Navid managed to say.

“There’s nothing to forgive. You’ve done nothing wrong, my dearest. It’s been such a long day, and you must be so tired.” Navid’s hair smelled of jasmine, an innocent scent, just as Navid himself.

Zana should have waited. Navid was so young and fragile. How could he know what he wanted from life? Had their situation been different, Zana would have never married him so fast, but he’d had no choice. The tales about the noble heir’s rare beauty had been all over the country, cheerfully encouraged by Navid’s family. If Zana hadn’t hurried and claimed Navid, Navid’s father would have married the boy off to someone else within a few months. Navid would have been given away to the highest bidder, someone who wouldn’t cherish him like Zana would. At least, that was what Zana kept telling himself. Because had there been a choice, taking the young omega on the night of his eighteenth birthday, snatching him away from his home, and uprooting his life would have been inexcusable.

Navid was indeed innocent. His body and his soul. And now he belonged to Zana.

“I will forever honor your claim. I’m your property. My body and mind will always obey your will. You’re the only one who can teach me, reward and punish me. You decide over my life, my husband.”

When he’d recited the marriage vow, Navid’s voice had sounded strong and powerful, but he had closed his eyes as if it had taken all his focus to say the words. In front of so many people, all gazes on him. At that moment, Zana had sworn to himself he’d do everything in his power to give Navid a happy life.

“Please forgive me,” Navid whispered again. His sobs had quieted, and he cried softly now, just shuddering breaths and wetness on Zana’s naked skin.

“My treasure.” Zana cupped the tear-stained face, tilted Navid’s head back gently, and caught his gaze. “I’m the one asking for forgiveness. For this miserable day. For all the people demanding things from you. For making you worry, leaving you alone and afraid.” Navid’s wide eyes were red, and exhaustion marred his youthful features. The fragility clawed at Zana’s self-control, speaking to the animal in him. Navid was now his to soothe and protect. “You are so beautiful. It