“Now all I have to do is look at you to find it,” I said. “You showed up for me even when you were a mere stranger. Now… well, now you’re everything to me. You’re my heart, my breath. I love you.”
Something raw flashed across his face.
“Kian,” I whispered. “He broke my heart. But you—” I reached for his hand, lacing our fingers together. “You’re the one who put it back together without asking for anything in return.”
His thumb brushed over my knuckles. “I’d do it again. Every time.”
“I know.” My voice softened. “That’s why I love you. Your loyalty. You are everything to me.”
He leaned in, resting his forehead against mine. “You should know,” he murmured, “loving me won’t be easy.”
I smiled, tears burning in my eyes. “It’s the easiest thing in the world for me. It happened so effortlessly, I didn’t even notice it until I was so deeply in love with you it would break me to be without you.”
His arms came around me then, strong and unyielding, and I let myself sink into him completely.
“Ready to go home?” he asked.
Home.The word felt right. Kian was my home. My forever. And there was nowhere else I’d rather be.
“Yes, let’s go home.”
Jonathan was my past. Kian was my future. My choice.
And that choice felt like freedom.
Chapter 44
Sophie
Almost a week passed since Jacqueline’s death and Jonathan’s reincarnation, but life went on.
My lessons in Albanian continued while Kian ran his empires, yet he somehow always found time for me. He’d pick me up after my lesson and we’d walk the town, slowly making our way through local ice cream shops.
Today was no different.
“So what flavor are you trying today,zemra ime?” he asked, his hand hooked over my shoulder as we strolled down the hot cobblestone while his bodyguards followed closely behind us. My threat was gone, but Kian’s way of life meant danger would always lurk in the corners. So if bodyguards would guarantee his safety, then so be it.
“Hmm, pistachio and Albanian baklava flavors looked really good yesterday. I think it’s time I give it a try.”
“Good choices.”
“Let me guess, you’ll stick to chocolate.”
He chuckled. “Better safe than sorry.”
I lightly pushed my elbow into his side. “You got to try new things.”
“I’m too old for new things.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re the hottest man I’ve ever laid my eyes on and hardly old.”
He shot me an amused look. “Glad to hear I haven’t lost my DILF status with you.”
I smiled. “Never.”
“Is there such a thing as a GILF?”
My eyebrows furrowed. “Huh?”
