“That was you in my mind, wasn’t it?” she asks in a whisper, turning to face me. She’s still wearing the same clothes she wore earlier—the gray sweater and plaid skirt. The outfit that was nearly the death of me on Earth. How is she always so effortlessly beautiful? “For some reason, I didn’t recognize your voice… I don’t even know if I had a recollection of who you were.”
“Trippy, right? You can thank our Archangel best friends for that.” I glance at the Archangels, who appear amused.
“We are going to counsel amongst one another within our minds to determine how to proceed. Please carry on as you will in the meantime. Rest assured, we won’t eavesdrop this time.” Lukespeaks boldly, glaring at Nial who holds his hands up, feigning innocence.
Unable to spend another minute not touching her, I stride to her side, sling my arm around her shoulders, and bend my head down to press a kiss into her hair.
“You saw everything, didn’t you?” she asks in a whisper. I nod solemnly. “Do you feel differently about me now?”
“Cleo.How could I? You’ve been carrying so much for so long. You’re strong—sostrong. But I’m here now, so you don’t need to carry it alone anymore. Ease up a little and let me help, okay?” I place a kiss on her head as she leans into my embrace. “So. You love me, huh?”
Her demeanor instantly changes, cheeks pinker than a tulip in spring. I clamp my teeth over my mouth and bite back a laugh. “I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again, so I panicked, and I—”
“Whoa. Are you about to take the proclamation of your undying love for me back?” I quirk a brow.
“What? No, I just—” She groans. “That moment happened differently in my dreams. That’s all. I mean, not that I’vedreamedabout it. Dreaming about something like that would be pitiful.”
Of course, she’d think that’s pitiful. I smirk, then lead us as far away from the Archangels as possible, nonchalantly, while they casually discuss our fate within their minds.
While stepping farther and farther away from the Archangels, I brace myself, gearing up to say what I’ve been waiting to say.
I clear my throat, tightening my hold around her side.
“I’ve always feared love, Cleo. In fact, giving in to love has been my greatest fear for as long as I can remember. I was scared of a lot of things related to love, like the idea that people loved the idea of me instead of the real me. I was scared I wouldn’t be capable of truly loving someone in that way. Ironic, seeing as Ionce told Irie that the only emotion that equates to fear is love. But then they stole you away earlier. Until that moment, I thought I understood my biggest fear—”
I gulp, whispering into her hair.
“—I was so wrong. The premise of never holding you in my arms again shattered me into countless pieces. That scared me more than anything ever had. I realized in that moment how much was left unsaid. Sure, you withheld the truth from me about your journey to Earth. Of course, that hurt me. Losing you hurt amilliontimes more.”
I turn her to face me. Tears brim in her eyelids, illuminating the brightness within her brown eyes.
I’ve told people I loved them in the past, but this is different.
This means something. No, not just something. It means everything.
“Iloveyou,” I say in a low voice, earnestly. “I’d choose you in every lifetime, under every circumstance. I’m done running away. I’m running straight into your arms, angel.”
Her pupils dilate as her eyes search mine. After witnessing everything she’s been through, her lack of trust in others makes sense. Her lack of optimism, too.
Hell, I must have been the last person in existence she would’ve imagined slumming it up with—
“Thank heavens,” she whispers, her lips curling upward in that soft smile of hers I’m obsessed with. “If the feeling weren’t mutual, my dramatic declaration of love for you would’ve been even more humiliating than it already was.”
I sniff a laugh and push my hand through my hair.
That’s my girl.
Mygirl.
Cleo is my girl.
The traces of the pain I saw in her moments ago have weakened. She leans into me, resting her head on my chest. As her body eases into me, I inhale her scent of calming eucalyptus and slip my hands around her waist.
I consume the space between us and bring my mouth to meet hers. Soft, at first. Warm and slow. Then, a barely audible whimper escapes her curved lips. A sinful sound that drives me to tangle my hand in her hair. My free hand digs into her waist, gripping it tightly.
Mine. She’sallmine.
I want—no, Ineed—more. Just as I’m about to lift her to straddle me, her lips break away from mine.
