“I don't want friendship.I don't want casual.I don't want maybe or temporary.”
“What do you want?”
“I want all your days, all your nights.I want you.All of you.Forever.My mate.”
“But what happens when summer ends?It won’t all be beach nights and moonlight kisses, Rand,” she says.
“I am telling you, I don’t want just this summer.I want every summer.Every fall.Every winter.All your Christmases.Every birthday.I want to grow old with you, Daria.”
She blinks rapidly.
“It’s too soon, you can’t be sure.”
“I’m sure.I want to wake up beside you every morning.I want to kiss you before you leave for work.I want to help you build that rescue barn.I want to be here to complain when you bring home one more stray.”
She laughs at that.
And I keep going.I keep talking because this right here?This is the most important speech I will ever make.
“I want to spoil every animal you rescue.I want to sit on that porch with you when we're eighty.I want every piece of the life you're dreaming about.”
Her tears spill again.
“I barely know you.”
“I know, Honey.It’s fast, but?—”
“I wasn’t done yet,” she interrupts me with a soft laugh.“I don’t know you.But my soul does.”
I close my eyes.
Gods, this woman is incredible.
And she’s mine.
I press my mouth to hers, my hands are cradling her face, and I kiss her deep and long.
“This is impossible,” she whispers when I finally let her breathe.
“It is.”
“And somehow...”
I smile because she’s coming around now.
“I believe you.I think it's true.”
She opens her eyes.
“It is, Honey.I swear it.”
She sits up straighter, moving a fraction back, and I allow it.
But, fuck me, it hurts when she moves away from me.
Still, I know she needs to speak her truth, so I brace for it.
“Okay, what exactly are you asking me, Rand?”
