“Do you?” The skepticism in his tone matches his expression. “Why are you holding back?”
“I’m scared.” The too-loud words are out before I can think to stop them.
I take his hand and pull him off the dance floor, finding a quiet place for us to sit at the edge of the party. I gesture for him to sit next to me; I’m relieved when he does.
“Sammy, I’ve spent my entire adult life comparing all of my partners to you.” I take in a deep breath and blow it out. I look down at my fingers, fidgeting in my lap. “After I begged you to choose me instead of Claire, I just never got over it. I—” I look out at the dance floor and see all the happy faces. “I never got overyou.” I look up at Sam to find him watching me, his eyes are downturned in regret.
“I’m so sorry. I wish I could rewind and take it all back. I never meant to hurt you like that.”
I grab his hand and gently stroke my thumb along his. “I know that now. You’ve shown me so much love these last few months.”
“But?” I can feel the worry coming off him, like he’s afraid he won’t like the answer.
“But,” I start slowly, “I’m terrified I won’t recover if you break my heart again.”
He looks like I’ve stabbed him in the chest, but he doesn’t say anything.
“You’re right. I’ve been holding back. Not because I’m not in love with you. Because I am. Sam,” I gently cup his cheek with my palm and turn his face, so he is fully looking at me, “I’m so deeply in love with you. To the point that I already know I won’t recover if you decide you want something orsomeoneelse.”
I drop my hand from his cheek and look briefly at the dancing couples before returning my attention to him.
“So, I’ve been holding back to hang on to the last shreds of my heart. Trying to protect whatever parts aren’t already yours because I’m terrified to lose you again.”
He shifts next to me as his expression softens. “Kat, I’m not going anywhere. I don’t want anyone but you. I’ve never wantedanyone but you.” Sam looks down at the ground. “Even when I was dating Claire. I stupidly thought that being with her would somehow get you out of my every thought.” He looks back up at me. “I’ve been yours long before Seattle.
“My entire heart has been yours since we were kids.” Sam reaches for my hands and holds them in his. “Why do you think I stayed with you at that dance? It wasn’t just because you were Ethan’s sister. I saw you. I saw the look on your face when you realized Kevin wasn’t coming. And it ruined me. I couldn’t bear seeing you distraught.”
I lean in and place a soft kiss on his lips, which he gently returns.
“Kat, it killed me when Ethan told me to stay away from you. My heart was shredded when you dated Kevin after that. It cracked again when you were so torn up after he broke up with you. And then, after I realized how much I hurt you with Claire? I haven’t told you this, but I haven’t had a serious relationship since I broke things off with her.”
“Really? Why?” I don’t hold back the shock in my tone.
He shrugs a little like he’s going to sidestep the question, but then his expression quickly changes to what I can only describe as determination.
“I could have. I dated, but my heart already belonged to someone else.” He looks at me with such gentleness, and I see the vulnerability on his face and in his rigid body. “It belonged to you.”
Kat, I love you. Always have. Always will.
Tears sting in the corners of my eyes when Sam reaches up and softly cups my cheeks with his palms.
Hoping Liv and Talia were right, I jump off the cliff.
“I’m all yours, Sam. Every part of me is yours. I’m sorry I’ve been holding back from you. I promise I won’t do that anymore.”
He kisses my cheeks, my forehead, and then my mouth. His kiss starts gently and then turns into something more feral. Hungry.
I open my mouth for him, letting him deepen the kiss. Our tongues explore each other. Our kiss is an apology, a forgiveness, and a promise.
He pulls away too soon and looks around, embarrassed. I follow his gaze, remembering where we are. He leans his forehead against mine and looks into my eyes. He looks like he wants to devour me, and I want him to.
“If you keep looking at me like that, I’m going to have to find a place behind the bushes to take you,” he growls.
“Is that a promise, Samuel Harris?” My tone is teasing, but I would let him if that’s what he wants. I would let him do almost anything to me right now.
“Fuck, Kat.” He runs his hand through his hair and then looks back to the crowd gathered on the dance floor. He stands up and holds his hand out to me. “Come on, I still need to dance with you. But when we get home, I’m going to ravage you while you wear that dress.” His eyes twinkle with his barely restrained desire.
“You promise?” My voice is full of heat as I think of what’s in store for me later.
