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He cocks his head to the side, studying me for a moment and I see the exact moment that he realizes what he said. “Aw hell, no, baby, not like that. You have no idea how much you mean to me and it’s not something I ever want to take from you but something that I really hope you’ll give me. I want the privilege of calling you mine and it’s something I’ll work my ass off everyday to earn.”

My heart stutters and I’m pretty sure I sigh like some lovesick teenager as I stare up at him, my mind spinning. In all the time we were together, did Ryan ever once speak to me like that? I don’t even have to think about it because I know he didn’t. Ryan never respected me or my choices the way Nix does and he’s already earned the right to call me his. Not that it matters anyway since I’m pretty sure he claimed me the moment we met.

“Yeah, Nix. I’m yours,” I whisper and his smile is blinding.

“About damn time, Sweetheart.”

I roll my eyes and nudge him in the side as he laughs and wraps an arm around my shoulders, moving the popcorn and pulling me closer.

“Shit, they’d probably take my balls for saying this so I’m only going to say it once: I fucking adore you, Emma.”

I scrunch up my nose and look away from him, uncertainty running through my mind but he doesn’t let me get away with it, grabbing my chin and bringing my gaze back to him.

“I. Adore. You.”

Warmth spreads through me and I lose myself in his eyes, captivated by the devotion in his gaze. It’s not the first time I’ve seen that look in his eyes but it is the first time I’m starting to believe it.

“That was twice,” I whisper, unsure of what to say and needing to break up the intensity of the moment. His lips twitch as he fights back a smile.

“Smartass.”

He leans down and presses his lips to mine, stealing away any doubt, any insecurity with just a simple kiss. Nix uses more than words to show me that he truly means every word that comes out of his mouth. I can feel it in every kiss, every caress, and every look. Pulling away, he stares down at me and I can’t pull my gaze away from his. Everything else falls away and it’s just the two of us in our own little world as his gaze drops to my lips.

“You have no idea how much I want you, Emma,” he whispers, his voice rougher than it was a moment ago and my skin tingles.

“I want you, too,” I admit and he lets out a low groan. “I kind of wish we weren’t in the middle of a crowded park.”

He nods, pressing his lips to the top of my head. “Soon.”

Pulling me in closer, he sets the popcorn in my lap and grabs a few pieces as he stares at the blank screen in front of us.

“Will you tell me more about him?” he asks and the question is so unexpected in our blissful moment that I tense in his arms.

“Why on earth would you want to ruin date night with all that shit?” My voice comes out harsher than I intended but I can’t help it. Just one simple question is enough to make the memories flood my mind.

“I’m not going to do anything to mess this up and I don’t want to freak you out again like I did when I asked you to be mine.”

I shake my head, reaching across his lap to grab his hand. “Nix, if I get upset by something, that’s on me, not you. These are my issues and I’m working really hard to get over them but it will just take a little time.”

He releases my hand to reach up and cradle my face, forcing my gaze to his as he offers me a comforting smile that seems to reach right into my chest. “Open up to me, Em. I want to be your lobster.”

I gasp and my mouth pops open in surprise as I stare up at him with wide eyes. He flashes me that smirk that I love so much.

“How?”

“I looked it up online. You’re going to have to explain that story, though.”

“Uh… Daisy, Addy, and I were a little obsessed with the TV show FRIENDS in high school and we loved Ross and Rachel. It’s silly because lobster don’t really mate for life but they used it on the show and we’ve just always used it. We wanted that epic love that survived whatever the world could throw at it. I don’t think you really get it, though. It seems hasty for someone I just started seeing like ten minutes ago,” I tease and he smirks at me.

“Baby, you’ve had me since the moment I first laid eyes on you. I was just waitin’ for you to come around.”

A blush creeps up my cheeks and I shake my head as I look away from him. “You are too smooth, Phoenix West. You say all the right things.”

“You know what I think it is?” he asks, drawing my gaze back to him and I get lost in his eyes for a moment. God, they are so blue, so intense, and I feel like when he looks at me, he sees me. Sees the real me, not all the stuff I’ve been faking for everyone else for too long. “Baby?”

“Huh? What?” I ask, snapping out of my daze. He smiles and shakes his head before leaning down and taking my lips again. I sigh as soon as we connect, and he pulls me into his body as his tongue slips into my mouth. I thread my fingers through his hair as our tongues dance together, caressing and stroking. With a groan, he pulls away, breathing heavily.

“What was I saying?” he asks, looking drunk. Drunk on me.