Page 195 of To Catch a Sub

“My grandparents are Zoroastrian. Murder would upset the balance, but I’m not worried.”

“Then I will worry for you. Worry that you’ll lose everything you have, and everything you are, if you love me.”

“There’s no ‘if,’ Colette. I love you.”

Her traitorous heart leapt with joy every time he said those words.

They’d done a semi-circle around the bed, and the next backwards step she took had her smacking against a wall.

They were in an upstairs bedroom of the old farmhouse, and the privacy it afforded them was the only reason she was comfortable saying these things and having this fight.

Landon grinned, bracing his hands on either side of her. “We keep ending up like this.”

Part of her wanted to shake him until he accepted just how doomed they were.

“I have a question for you, Colette.”

“I won’t answer it.” It was stupid and petulant, but having him this close made her stupid. It was hard to remember that they were doomed when he was smiling down at her.

Hard to believe that she couldn’t have him, because she was bad for him.

“Yes, you will.”

She smacked her hands against his chest, intending to push him away. Instead she curled her fingers into the soft fabric of his knit shirt.

“Do you love me, Colette?”

She squeezed her eyes closed.

“No,” he scolded softly, brushing her cheek with his thumb. “Look at me.”

Her body heated, then melted at his words, at the way he touched her.

“Do you love me?”

Colette couldn’t fight both him, and her own heart, and more. “Yes. Desperately.”

“Say it.”

“I love you, Landon.”

“Then nothing else matters.”

* * *

Landon kissed her gently, needing to taste her, but mindful of her abused lip.

This was the first time he’d touched her with clear romantic, sexual intent since she’d been kidnapped. He’d kissed her to comfort her, kissed her because he needed to feel close to her, but hadn’t yet kissed her as foreplay.

Landon told his cock to calm the fuck down, because it was very possible she didn’t want this right now. He was going to go slow, and check in with her every step of the way, but it might be way too soon for even this kiss.

Her fingers kneaded his shirt, like one of the farm cats any time they found a forgotten towel or sweater to curl up on, and she made a pleased, needy noise.

Kissing was a go.

He licked the uninjured corner of her mouth, and nipped her upper lip.

She leaned into the kiss, trying to increase the pressure, so he raised his head. “Careful.”