I snorted. “Oh, yeah, I’m absolutely green with disgust. Watch out, I might puke.”
“Now that’s gross, Mazzy Belle.”
“Still love me anyway?” I whispered.
His eyelids fluttered then fully opened. “Yeah,” he breathed. “Still super wildly in love with you.”
I didn’t think tonight would be the night we’d make these confessions. I’d hoped it was coming. I knew how I felt…and I’d thought maybe he was there too. But hearing it, the way he said it, the way he looked at me like he was afraid I didn’t reciprocate his feelings—it was surreal. Like I had actually fallen asleep and this was the best dream I’d ever had.
I tried to be surreptitious and pinch myself where he wouldn’t notice, but he didn’t miss it. His eyes flared, and his forehead crinkled.
“Did you pinch yourself?” he asked, bewildered and amused.
“I had to make sure this wasn’t a dream.”
He pinched his chest. “Not a dream, but it’s kinda feeling like a nightmare. Here I am, hanging in the breeze, my feelings out, all alone. I’m glad I said it, but…yeah, not liking being so vulnerable.”
I wanted to tease him. Tell him he was adorable when he was vulnerable. That he’d never been sexier than he was now. But I couldn’t do that to him. I wanted him to feel free to share his feelings, always, and making light of something so big would only make him second-guess next time.
I tilted my head back so I could see him and he could see me. “You’re not alone in your feelings at all. You say I’m easy, but you are the easiest. I fell in love with you without any effort. It just happened.”
His brow dropped. “When?”
“When what?”
“When did it happen?”
“Um…” I thought back, trying to find a single moment. “I’m not sure I can pinpoint the time it occurred to me what I feel for you is love.”
He glared at me. “But you’ve known for a while and kept it secret?” Wrapping both arms around me, he rolled us until he was hovering above me. “You kept that from me?”
“Uh…” My eyes were wide, even as I tried to keep my giggles at bay. “Maybe?”
A low growl was my only warning before he dropped his face into my neck and latched on, sucking and biting, kissing and licking. His hot breath roamed over my sensitive flesh, strong arms locked around me so I couldn’t escape—not that I tried.
“Ben,” I yelped. “If you give me a hickey, I’m going to be mad.”
Pausing, he raised his head. “How mad?”
I thought about it. “At least a little.”
“But you’ll still love me?”
“Most likely.”
His eyes narrowed, then he nodded. “A chance I’m willing to take.”
He descended upon my neck like a wild animal, his teeth clamping down on me like a werewolf claiming his mate. It was silly and sexy and hot, and all I could do was cling to him, wrapping my legs around his back.
Soon, our clothes were ripped free and tossed aside, and Ben was sliding into me. His mouth never left my skin, nipping and sucking all over, leaving his mark on my breasts and shoulders—wherever he could reach.
And in between, he asked me to tell him I loved him. I whispered it, shouted it, moaned it, along with his name, and when he fucked me harder, the words turned into something that had never been uttered before by a human. Gibberish that seemed to make sense to him while he answered with his own subhuman grunts and snarls.
He pushed my legs to my chest and rose to his knees, towering over me. Peering at me from above, he held the backs of my knees in his huge hands, making me feel small, desired…his.
“Love you,” he rumbled lowly. “Gorgeous Mazzy.”
“Love you too.”
