Page 342 of Reign

“Why?”

His fingers tighten around mine as he draws me closer to his side.

“You know why.”

My face warms before I can stop it.

“Because you’re obsessed with me?”

“Yes.”

“That was too easy.”

“I’ve never denied it.”

No. He hasn’t.

Apparently, neither of us is pretending anymore.

He loves me.

Luciano Castillo loves me.

The thought has repeated itself inside my head since he said it, each time sounding equally impossible.

I said it back. I meant it.

I’m intensely in love with this man.

We pass the main floor, where music pulses beneath the low murmur of conversations. My attention catches on one of the scenes unfolding near the far wall, but Luciano doesn’t slow.

He leads me toward the private corridor instead.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

“That usually means you’ve planned something.”

“I plan most things.”

“Did you plan to tell me you loved me while we were arguing about a swimming pool?”

His stride falters.

Only slightly.

“No.”

I smile. “I thought that seemed spontaneous.”

“It was true.”

The quiet certainty in his voice warms me.

I look ahead before he can see how thoroughly his words affect me.

“I meant it too,” I say.