A long silence stretched on between us, and then Frasier brushed his thigh against mine.“You know, I really meant what I texted you earlier.If you need anything, tell me, and I’ll handle it for you, if it has to do with Calix or the baby.”
In my mind, Frasier had always been the playboy, the flirt, the guy who would never settle down.Yet everything seemed so genuine with him, always.My stomach twisted as I wondered if he was just playing me like Calix had been.
Still, it felt so real.
“Frasier,” I murmured, “about the rumor …”
“What about it?”
“You can’t tell anyone, but … I’m not actually pregnant.”
Frasier paused for a moment, then shook his head.“Damn it.”
My eyes widened, as I hadn’t expected that to come out of his mouth.“What?”
His smug smirk returned.“I knew it.”
“How?”
“Come on, baby,” he said, drawing out the words.“You would’ve told me first.”
I rolled my eyes.“No, I wouldn’t have.”
“Don’t lie to yourself.”
He moved closer, his warm breath fanning my face.I shivered at how close we were.
He tucked some hair behind my ear, his fingers just grazing against my cheek.“You love me.”
I sucked in a breath.“I’m not lying.”
His gaze dropped to my lips.“But you love me?”
My heart was pounding inside my chest.“Wh-what?”
“Do you love me, Astrid?”he asked, his intense eyes on mine.
“Do I … do I love you?”I repeated.
How … can … What do I say to that?
He drew his nose up mine.“Do.You.Love.Me?”
My gaze traveled from one of his eyes to the other.“I … it … you …”
“It’s a yes or no answer,” he murmured, lips millimeters from mine.“Do you love me, Astrid?”
“Yes,” I whispered, crashing my lips against his.“Yes, I love you.”
CHAPTERFIFTY-FIVE
FRASIER
Astrid loved me.
I kissed her back, my hands all over her body.Though I had persuaded her to admit her feelings toward me, I hadn’t thought she’d actually say it.I hadn’t thought anyone would actually say it to me.
“I love you, Frasier,” she murmured against my lips again.She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and pulled me closer to her, gently tugging on my hair as my tongue slipped into her mouth.“You don’t know how much.”
