Page 308 of Trick or Stalk

My vision blurs.

“I loved you before I knew what the fuck it was.”

Oh God.

“I think I loved you when you told me you wanted to be a professor.”

My lips part.

“Maybe before.”

His voice gets rougher.

“I loved you when you were scared of me.”

That sounds exactly like Hades.

“I loved you when you trusted me.”

Pain flashes across his expression.

“And I fucking hated myself when I realized I'd used one against the other.”

A tear slips down my cheek.

Hades's hand twitches at his side. He wants to wipe it away.

But he doesn't.

That might be what breaks me.

I reach out and take his hand. Hades inhales sharply.

For weeks, he's touched me whenever he wanted. Tonight, his fingers don't close around mine until I squeeze first.

Then they do.

His thumb tentatively brushes over my knuckles.

Hades being tentative. What a fucking terrifying concept.

“I love you too.”

His hand goes completely still.

I laugh through the tears. “You look more shocked by that than anything we’ve discussed tonight.”

“I am.”

“Well, that's disturbing.”

“Presley.”

“I do.”

His eyes search my face.

“I love you.”