“Matt? W-what are y—”
He kissed her.
With his hands framing her face, he paid no attention to the water pouring down over them both—or the fact that he was still fully dressed, boots and all—as he pressed the tip of his tongue against the tight seem of her lips.
All thoughts of forgetting this sexy, confusing man vanished the second his mouth took hers. Kat opened herself up to him in every way possible. Because in that exact moment, she knew…
I’ll give this man anything he wants.
Ending the rough, possessive kiss too soon, Matt pulled himself away enough to look into her eyes. Blinking against the falling water, his eyes darkened with a level of determination far exceeding her own.
“I’m sorry, baby. So. Fucking. Sorry.”
“I-I…I don’t…”
“I know.” He smiled again. “But you will. I promise, I will do whatever it takes to make you understand.”
Kat’s head was spinning. “Understand what?”
“That your mine.” He rested his forehead against hers. “You belong to me, Katherine. You always have.”
She gasped, her breath hitching from confusion and surprise. From hope. God, she felt more hope than she had in so very long.
Please don’t be messing with me.
“I can see those brilliant wheels of yours turning. You’re probably wondering what the hell I’m doing in here with you. Trust me, we’ll get to that in a minute. I can also see the hesitation behind those mesmerizing eyes of yours, and I don’t blame you. But I swear with everything I have, this isnotsome sort of ruse to get close to you in order to dig up more intel. This is me, standing here, telling you I love you.”
Kat’s knees gave out, but Matt was ready to catch her.
“Easy, sweetheart.” His strong arms held her naked form securely. “I’ve got you.”
“Y-you…loveme?”
She had to hear it again. Needed to look him in the eyes and see his mouth form those precious words again. Otherwise, she’d convince herself this was all a dream.
“Look at me, sweetheart.” Keeping an arm around her waist, Matt used his thumb and forefinger to tip her chin upward.
She knew he was doing it so she’d look up at him but he didn’t have to. There wasn’t a force strong enough to make her tear her eyes from his.
“I’m listening,” she assured him.
“Good.” A corner of his mouth rose in the same sideways smirk he used to wear, her chest filling with wild palpitations. “I need you to really hear me this time.” Dark eyes reached into her soul, his words like gentle tendrils wrapping themselves around her heart as he repeated, “I love you, Katherine. I never stopped. Even when I thought I hated you, I still loved you.”
Tears mixed with water as Kat became so emotionally overwhelmed she had to fight against the dizzying effects to keep from passing out.
For years, she’d dreamed of hearing him say those same words, yet…
“The things you said.” She swallowed hard. “I know I hurt you, Matt, but you hurt me, too. Those things you said…knowing you thought I could ever be that cruel to anyone, let alone you…”
“I know I fucked up.” Shame filled his expression. And I’ll never forgive myself for the way I’ve treated you. But I swear, Katherine. If you’ll just give me a chance, I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”
She wanted to believe him so badly.
“I know I’ve been a Grade-A prick, but please, baby.” His voice cracked. “I’m not me without you. You make me better. You make me the man Iwantto be.” Twin tears fell down his cheeks. “I love you so much, Katherine. So much.”
“I love you, too,” she heard herself whisper back. Barely keeping herself together, she added, “I love you so much it hurts.”
Through his tears, Matt smiled wide. An honest to goodness, light-up-his-face smile. He looked instantly younger, more like the boy she used to know. The sight was absolutely breathtaking.
