What she wouldn’t give to be that drop of water.
“Eyes on mine, Butterfly,” he told her.
She shot her gaze up, embarrassed to be caught staring.
“Why aren’t you asleep?” He stared down at her in concern. “Are you worried about something?”
“Yes. You.”
He gave her a shocked look. “Me? Why would you worry about me?”
“Because you disappeared and didn’t tell me where you were going or when you would be back!”
“You don’t need to worry about me. Now, go back to bed and I’ll be in soon.”
“Kellan!”
He raised his eyebrows. “Yes?”
“Telling me not to worry doesn’t mean that I will magically stop worrying.”
“It should. I always mean what I say. I’ll be fine. Stop worrying.”
“No.”
“No?” he drawled. “Are you serious?”
“Very serious. I will not stop worrying until you promise that when you can you will tell me where you are going and when you will be back. And if you’re going to be late you will message me.”
He raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms over his muscular chest. “Is that all?”
“No, it’s not all. Before you leave, you kiss me goodbye. And when you get home, you kiss me hello.”
He stalked toward her as she spoke and, grasping her by the hips, lifted her onto the bench.
“Anything more?”
“If you can’t tell me what you’re doing, then just say that. But I want you to promise me that you’ll always come home, because I can’t live without you, Kellan Jones. You’ve become my everything.”
“And you’re my everything, Butterfly. So I agree to your terms.”
She wouldn’t call them terms, but she’d take it.
“There might be other things that I will need from this relationship. But for now the only other thing is that you’re not to sacrifice yourself for anyone else. You’re important, Kellan. And you’re . . . you’re wanted.”
You’re loved.
She wasn’t sure she was ready to say that. Was she?
Was it too soon to speak about love? Maybe. She didn’t want to scare them away.
He cupped her cheek. “These things are important to you?”
“Very important.”
“I never want you to be upset or hurt. Especially not from something I do. But I will make mistakes. And you need to tell me when I do.”
“I will,” she told him.
