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I brush my fingers up her waist as I kiss the hell out of her. “I love the way you taste. I’ll never get enough. If I could glue my mouth to yours, I would.”

She laughs against me, running her fingers through my hair. “I take it you had fun with the guys because you taste like a distillery. How much whiskey did you drink?”

I swipe my tongue along her bottom lip, seeking more of her taste. “Too much.”

She moans against my mouth but then pulls away from me. I don’t like that. I don’t like that one bit. “Rhode, you’re drunk.”

“Off you.” I tug her closer.

She rolls those pretty hazels. “I’m not taking advantage of you.”

“Please take advantage of me,” I beg. “Take all the advantage you want. Take everything. I’m yours.”

She laughs again, and I try to capture the sound with my mouth. I think I like making her laugh even more than I like making her come.

No. Yes. Wait, it’s a tie.

My tongue swipes into her mouth, and she welcomes me with a soft sigh. My heart pounds in my chest because I still get a little nervous every time I kiss her, and just like every time, we get carried away.

Her fingers find their way to the back of my neck, tangling in my hair. I tighten my grip on her waist, pulling her closer to my chest, but it won’t be close enough until I’m inside her, but for now, all I want is a kiss.

I love her so damn much. I don’t know how it happened, or when it happened, or why it happened, but I’m just glad it happened—that we happened—and great, now I’m repeating myself, and all my whiskey-soaked brain can think about is how much I love her.

She rests her forehead against mine. I struggle to catch my breath as she peers into my eyes with a frown. That’s not the look I want tonight. I want her smiles.

“Was the whiskey for a special occasion?” she asks. “Because if there’s something you want to talk about, you know I’ve got big ears.”

I love that we have our inside jokes. I love her. I tuck a strand of hair behind her perfectly-sized ears. “I love your ears, and your face, and your laugh, and your brain, and your smile, and you. I love everything you.”

She goes rigid in my arms. “What did you just say?”

I stiffen. What did I say? Tilting my head, I replay the words and then freeze.

Shit. Fuck. Double fuck.

That’s not how I wanted to tell her. I wanted to buy her flowers or something, not drunkenly word vomit I love everything you for the first time with Chicken judging from his cat castle.

Dammit. I can’t tell what expression’s on her face, and great, now I’m sweating, but I’m not taking it back because it’s the truest thing I’ve ever felt.

Alright, sober up. You can do this, Tremblay.

“I said, I love you.”

33

NINA

“You what?”

My entire body stiffens while I replay the words over and over in my head like my favorite song.

I love you. I love you. I love you.

I don’t care if it’s an alcohol-induced confession, it’s everything I’ve wanted to hear, and I need to make sure I’m not imagining this moment.

The goofy smile falls from his face like what he’s about to say is of the utmost importance. “I said, I love you, and I want to keep you forever. Shit, that sounds bad, but you know what I mean.”

“Rhode…” I tangle my hands in his hair. “What about a family? What about everything you want? I don’t want to hold you back.”