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I wanted to grab her words like a lifeline, but I was too afraid to do it. So I remained where I stood. "You said you wanted me to want you, but you didn't say you loved me."
She stepped closer to me, reaching out toward me. My hands instinctively came out of my pockets and took her hands in mine. Touching made the longing in my heart painful.
"I've made such a mess of things. I'm sorry. What I meant was that I wanted you to love me for me, not just because I was carrying your child. I didn't want you to feel obligated."
The noose around my heart loosened, and I reached my hand up to cup her cheek. "My desire to be with you is not out of obligation or duty." I let out a small laugh. "The reason I brought Mikael over and wanted you to work with him was so I could be around you. Nearly everything I've been doing is to be around you because I can't seem to be away from you."
Her smile was like the sun coming out after a storm. "And I want to be with you not because you are rich or handsome or—"
I flashed a grin. "You think I'm handsome?"
She rolled her eyes. "More handsome than anyone has a right to be."
Unable to hold back, I tugged her in close, wrapping her in my arms and vowing I'd never let her go. "I'm sorry I've been such an asshole. I'm sorry that I hurt you and said awful things to you. I think you know jealousy makes me crazy."
She looked up at me. "You don't have to be jealous, Todd. You're the only one I want."
I stared down into her beautiful green eyes, feeling myself tumbling into them. "What about the fact that I'm your boss?"
She smiled. "Well, technically, you're not my boss anymore."
I took that to mean that she didn't plan on coming back to work. I didn't want her to go, but I also wanted her to be happy.
She walked her fingers up my chest and gave me a flirty smile. "Now, tomorrow, maybe you’ll accidentally delete that resignation letter, but right now..."
I grinned. And then I plastered my lips over hers, kissing her until I couldn’t breathe. I pulled back. “Just tell me you’re mine.”
“I’m yours.”
I dipped to kiss her again, but she stopped me. “Tell me you’re mine.”
“Don’t you know, Elisabeth? I’ve been yours ever since you seduced me in the library at Naomi’s wedding. I haven’t stopped wanting you, thinking of you, needing you since.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “Me neither. I’m sorry I made this so hard.”
I wiped a tear from her cheek. “We both made it hard. From now on, let's be honest. Let’s follow your recommendation to share our feelings.”
“Deal.”
“Can I tell you how I’m feeling now?”
Her smile turned flirty. “Does it involve getting naked?”
“It does.” I scooped her up into my arms and carried her to her bedroom.
We stripped at a world-record pace, but once we were on the bed, I slowed things down. I was going to take my time so she knew without a doubt that I loved her, that I wanted her for her and not out of obligation or duty. There was so much I wanted to say to her like how I wanted her to move in with me and spend the rest of her life with me. But for now, I stuck with words of love.
“I love you, Elisabeth.” I whispered it with each kiss I cascaded along her jaw, down her neck, and lower to her belly, where I kissed the place where our baby grew.
“Todd.” Her arms held me tightly, and I couldn’t ever remember feeling as loved as I felt from her. “I love you.”
I spread my body over hers. Lacing my fingers with hers, I pulled her hands over her head. “Look at me, Elisabeth.”
Her beautiful green eyes shone up at me. With our gazes holding, I slid inside her body. Finally, after so much uncertainty and pain, my world righted itself.
36
Betts
