“What is it?” she asks, a little worried.
“When I was talking to Lindsey, she spoke about wanting another chance with me. How she believed we were always meant to be together, that we could still be happy…”
“I heard…sorry I was eavesdropping,” she admits.
“That’s okay, I knew you two were there listening,” I chuckle. “The thing is, when she said those things, I came to understand something about myself.” I pause, setting my drinkdown on the coffee table, then taking hers from her hand and setting it next to mine.
“I realized that what I thought was love in the past has never actually been love. Love is so much deeper, so much more intense than I ever could have imagined. And the only reason I know that is because… because I fell in love with you, Blair.”
Her mouth drops open in shock, and I reach out and trace my fingers over her jaw, chuckling at her expression.
“Is that… good surprise …or bad surprise. IswearIknowyou love me too. I can feel it when you kiss me. I can see it when you look at me.”
She narrows her eyes, and a cheeky smile covers her lips. “YouknowI love you?” she says with a little mischief in her voice.
“I do. I’m not blind,” I insist.
Her grin grows even wider.
“And if…if I don’t?” she asks, shifting closer to me.
“Well…” I scoff. “That might be a problem,” I say with fake warning in my voice.
She climbs into my lap and presses her hands against my chest, fiddling with my buttons. “What kind of a problem?” she asks, her eyes glittering.
I slip my arms around her waist and pull her closer to me.
“I’d have to kidnap you for real. I’d have to chain you to my bed and keep you there until you understood what a mistake it wasnotto fall in love with me. It would take time and dedication, but I would do it,” I nod slowly.
“Chained to your bed?” She stifles a giggle. “Actually… I think maybe Idon’tlove you,” she says, hardly able to hide how beautiful her smile is.
I pull her even closer, whispering against her ear, “So you like the idea of being chained to my bed?” I ask, my body pulsing with desire.
“I like that idea, and I like the idea of you being in love with me… because I love you too. I love you so much it scares me.”
My heart clenches in my chest. Hearing her say the words is like the sky cracking open and releasing the wildest storm I’ve ever seen.
“You love me,” I whisper in relief and awe.
“Yes, but I prefer if you pretend you didn’t hear that… and go back to whatever the threat was about what happens if I don’t love you,” she whispers seductively.
I lift her in my arms and carry her to my room.
“I think I need to show you…” I say, as we go up the stairs.
I can’t stop smiling. My heart is exploding.
I have never been happier in my life.
