Ina pulled back. “If you hurt me again?—”
“Then call a doctor because I’ve lost my mind.” I kissed her again.
“I think you’ve already lost your mind,” she said, leaning her head into my chest. “Those Times Square billboards must have cost a fortune.”
I kissed the top of her head. “I needed you to know how much I missed you and how sorry I was for messing everything up. Did it work?”
“We’ll see.”
CHAPTER 39
INA
His eyes darkened in a way that made my stomach flip. “Show me your bedroom.”
My heart started racing. I took his hand and led him down the short hallway to my room. It was barely enough space for my full-size bed, a dresser, and a nightstand. The walls were covered with photos of family and friends from back home.
Dane looked around, taking it all in. His gaze lingered on a photo of me and my parents on graduation day, then moved to the string lights I’d hung above my bed because they made the space feel cozy instead of small.
“I like it,” he said softly, then looked at me. “But Iloveyou.”
The words still made my breath catch. I didn’t think I’d ever get tired of hearing them.
“I love you too,” I whispered.
He kissed me, slow and deep, his hands sliding into my hair. I melted against him and my fingers found the buttons of his shirt. I worked them open one by one while his mouth moved to my neck, kissing and sucking in a way that made my knees weak.
My hands pushed his shirt off his shoulders and let it fall to the floor. I ran my palms over his chest, feeling the hard musclebeneath warm skin. He was so beautiful it almost hurt to look at him.
Dane’s hands went to the hem of my sweater, pulling it up and over my head. His eyes darkened as he took in the simple black bra I wore underneath.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, his fingers tracing the edge of the lace. “Sometimes I can’t believe you’re real.”
“I’m real.” I reached behind me to unhook my bra, letting it fall away. “I’m right here.”
His hands cupped my breasts, thumbs brushing over my nipples until they peaked. I gasped at the sensation, my head falling back as pleasure sparked through me.
He guided me backward until my legs hit the bed. I sat down, and he knelt before me, his hands going to the button of my jeans. He looked up at me, asking permission without words.
I nodded.
He pulled my jeans and underwear down in one smooth motion, leaving me completely bare before him. I should have felt vulnerable or self-conscious, but the way he looked at me made me feel powerful instead.
Dane stood and removed the rest of his clothes. I watched, my mouth going dry as he revealed himself to me. I’d seen him naked before, but this felt different. This wasn’t frantic or forbidden. This was us, choosing each other.
He crawled onto the bed, covering my body with his. His weight settled over me in a way that felt right, like two puzzle pieces finally clicking into place.
“I love you,” he said again, his forehead pressed to mine. “I’m going to keep saying it until you’re sick of hearing it.”
“I’ll never be sick of it.”
He kissed me again. I felt certain of his love. He might not believe in intuition and soulmates, but I did. He was mine. I was going to prove it to him every day.
I rolled us over, straddling his hips, and pushed him back against the pillows. His eyes widened slightly, surprise mixing with desire as I began kissing my way down his chest.
“Ina, what are you doing?”
“Shh.” I pressed a finger to his lips. “Let me.”
