Page 76 of Kaine

Chapter Thirty

HIM

She doesn’t say anythingafter I made my declaration and I wonder if I’m lucky enough that she’s actually fallen asleep.

I hadn’t meant to say it. Didn’t even know I felt it. Not until I heard my own voice did I realize I was actually moving my mouth, and the thought that I’d been repressing for days now had travelled from my brain to my lips.

But. There is no denying it.

For the first time, in a very long time, I love someone.

Anyone.

One person.

In the whole world.

It’s been ten years since I’ve said it. And ten years since I’ve felt it.

But I do now.

And there’s no hiding it from myself.

But, I had hoped to hide it from everyone else, for some time, if not, forever.

Especially the person I feel it for.

But she hasn’t said anything, so I may have actually lucked out.

“What did you say?” she whispers, after some time.

Of course, no such luck.

I move, sliding off her and onto the bed. The sheets are cool compared to the searing heat of our bodies glued together. Moving to the top of the bed, I prop myself up against the headboard, and pull her over to me. She complies, and lays her head on my chest.

“You heard me,” is all I say.

“You said...”

“Yes.”

“Do you really?”

“I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t.”

“But.”

“No, buts. It just is what it is. You don’t have to respond.” Especially if it’s to tell me you don’t feel the same way.

“I... you told me to hate you,” she refers to our pre-sex fight.

“You remember that, do you? I was hoping that my searing hot sex would make you forget.

“Well, no. I heard you loud and clear. And I do... or I did...”

“You do hate me?”

“No, of course not. I mean, I don’t know. I did in that moment.”