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“I know why you feel the way you do. I know you hurt someone you cared about, and you’ve been punishing yourself for it ever since. But you need to forgive yourself. We can’t erase the past. But you need to find a way to make peace with it. One chapter doesn’t define your whole story.” His voice cracked, and his thumbs swept tears from my cheeks. “I want to write the rest of our book. And I refuse to let you talk about the woman I love like she doesn’t deserve to be happy. Not for one more day. So tell me you love me back, and let’s move on to the next chapter. It’s as simple as that.”
More tears slid down my face. “Rafe…” I shook my head, still afraid of being the reason he made such a monumental choice.
The corner of Rafe’s mouth quirked upward. “Right cheek’s ticcing, baby.”
I let out a sound that was somewhere between a sob and a laugh. “Shut up.”
Rafe smiled. “Tell me you love me.”
“You can’t not take the job in—”
His mouth crashed down on mine before I could finish.
Not soft. Not hesitant. He kissed me like he couldn’t wait anymore. Like he’d decided the only way to stop me from arguing was to remind me of the reality.
It worked.
For one stunned second, I didn’t move. Then my hands were fisting his shirt, and I kissed him back with everything I’d been holding in for weeks. Rafe groaned against my mouth and backed me up until my spine met the wall. One hand slid into my hair and the other stayed on my cheek like he didn’t trust he could let go.
When he finally pulled back, we were both panting.
“Tell me.” He groaned.
I opened my mouth to respond, and he kissed me again. Shorter this time, but no less effective. “Stop doing that,” I whispered.
“No.”
“What do you mean no?”
He shrugged. “I’m going to do that for the rest of your life, whenever you’re a pain in the ass. So you better get used to it.”
“A pain in your—”
He pushed his lips to mine again before I could get the last word out. After another passionate kiss, he left his lips pressed to mine. “Say it.” The words vibrated against my mouth.
“How can I talk like this?”
“You’re doing just fine.”
“Rafe.”
He moved back just slightly, enough so he could see into my eyes. “I love you, Talia. I know it’s not been easy. Not from the start. But that doesn’t matter. I love you, complications and all. And you might as well say it back because your face has been snitching on you this whole time.”
I let out another shaky laugh. “I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
My right cheek ticced. His eyes clocked it before coming back to mine. He smiled wide.
I rolled my eyes. “Fine. I love you, too.”
His hands on my face tightened and his face turned serious. “Say it again.”
This time, I looked him straight in the eyes. “I love you.”
The smile that broke across his face was so beautiful it hurt. “There she is.”
“Now what?” I whispered.
