What she said before was true. This is the evidence. She really did have feelings for me, even back then. Even when I was my worst.
“Why?” I croak.
“Like I said,” she says, voice breaking, “I always knew there was more to you, that it was all an act, that you were going through something, too. Maybe because I could see the signs, because of what I was going through.” Sheclutches the jacket tighter. “And this helped me through it all. It was a reminder of the real you.”
I shake my head. “What I went through was nothing like what you did.” I look at the mouse—Squeakers—laying on her bed. “But I get it. Squeakers helped me through stuff too.”
When I look back on my behavior, it makes me sick. I can’t believe she could have seen any good in me, even now, let alone back then. I don’t deserve her. I don’t deserve her forgiveness.
But I’m going to take it because I won’t be without her anymore. I’ll just make damn sure she’s taken care of from now on. I want her to always feel loved and secure, even when she distances from me again, closes off because of some trigger. Now that I understand the reason, I’ll be prepared to get us through it, I won’t lose my patience.
I’m going to keep her.
As if she can read my thoughts, she presses her palm to my heart. “You’re too hard on yourself. You can’t punish yourself for not suffering the same way.” She pauses. “That night in the rain, when it was just the two of us, I saw the real you, the one Iknewexisted before I even had proof. The you that I had feelings for. It’s the same you as now, and I love you.”
My whole body quakes at those words.
“Say it again,” I rasp, stepping into her touch.
She looks up, biting back a smile. “I love you.”
Finally, I let myself touch her. Cupping the back of her neck, I bring her toward me until my lips almost graze hers. “I love you, Brie.”
My lips brush hers, and an electric current moves through me.
CHAPTER 51
SAWYER
She loves me.
The jacket falls to the floor, and her hands dive into my hair, scratching lightly at my scalp. I pull her tighter to me, one hand splayed on the small of her back, the other cupping her neck, angling her so I can take her mouth deeper. When she moans, I feel it in my soul. Her pleasure is my pleasure. All I want is to give her more.
I graze my nose along her throat, up to her ear, breathing her in.
A shiver runs through her, goosebumps forming on her neck. I nip at them. Her pleased little whimper is like a dopamine hit straight to my veins.
I bring my mouth to her ear. “I love your sounds.”
She pulls back, rich brown eyes searching mine. “I loveyou.”
My heart is too big for my chest. I’ll never tire of hearing that. I drop my hands to cup her ass and lift her. She wraps her legs around me like they belong there. When we pull apart, our eyes meet. Her mouth widens into a smile, happy and sweet.
I can’t help my own grin. “I’m so fucking happy, Brie.”
“Me, too.” She threads her fingers through my hair.
We’re still smiling when we draw together. Our teeth clack, making her laugh. Warm honey isn’t sweeter.
I turn and lay her gently on her bed, planting wet, sucking kisses down her neck, her collarbone, where her shirt cuts into her cleavage. She rewards me with more moans, more whimpers, her body quivering at every touch—myevery touch. I move down to her belly, lifting her shirt, making her squirm and gasp as I tickle her with my lips, teeth, tongue, the stubble on my cheeks.
Before I can move lower, she tugs me up, circling her legs around my waist again.
I try frowning, but I can’t wipe my smile completely. “I have important work to attend to.”
“You have important work up here,” she says against my jaw. “Stay with me.”
She rocks her hips beneath mine, eyelids fluttering when she gets the friction she needs. I trace my fingertips lightly up and down her side, tracing her bra, teasing her nipples, watching heat and need and satisfaction flow over her features. I’d be happy to just do this the rest of the night, watch her take pleasure from me however she chooses, but I know she’s going to want more.
