“You don’t really expect me to answer that truthfully.Do you?”
Her shoulders started to shake, and then she was laughing, and it was the most beautiful sound in the world.
He pulled her tightly against him, and her arms went around his neck. “I forgot to tell you something.” And before she could ask, he said roughly, “I forgot to tell you that you’re the most beautiful girl in the word for me.”
Ilse stilled.
“There are idiots and blind fools in this world that might make you feel and think differently, and when they do, I want you to remember my words.”
That he meant what he said was obvious, but so was the tone of self-loathing that underlined it, and she knew, of course she knew, that he believed he had acted like one of those idiots and blind fools he was talking about—-
And for one shared heartbeat, they remembered.
The billionaire staring at her with contemptuous blue eyes, his voice lashing out at her-—
“That you could even think you do when you’re nothing but a—-”
They both remembered, but the memory hurt him more, and he said hoarsely, “You’re always beautiful in my eyes, babe.”
If she had called him a liar then, she would have a right to, and he wouldn’t blame her.
But instead he felt her hands curl against her chest, almost as if she wanted to hold his words to her heart, and the poison inside of him burned.
“Your courage, your kindness, your purity—-”
“You make me sound like a saint,” she choked.
“Then I guess that makes youmysaint,” he said mockingly.
She choked again.
“The world’s most beautiful saint and—-” He bit her ear, and as she shuddered against him, he whispered, “I’m the only one allowed to worship you.”
“Oh, Jaak.” Ilse wished she could be as eloquent as he was, but every time her heart felt close to bursting, the words would cease coming...the way it did now. “You have such a way with words,” she mumbled, “and I’m not sure if I should be happy about it or not.”
The billionaire’s shoulders rocked in silent mirth.
“You know...” Just thinking about what she wanted to say made her trail off in an awkward note, and her voice became muffled as she hid her face against his chest. “You haven’t...you haven’t actually said the words yet.”
“Say what?”
“That.”
Ah.The billionaire kissed the top of her head.I love you.
And she did hear it. She did feel it. But even so—-
She looked up at him in consternation. “Jaak!”
He only responded by licking her ear.I love you.
She tried pulling away from him then, but he only laughed and pulled her right back to him.
“Why won’t you say it?” she demanded.
“Why does it matter if I don’t?” he countered.
“B-because,” she sputtered.
