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He reached for her hand and brought it to his mouth. “I like how much you talk. It’s not too much,” he said against her knuckles. His mouth moved along her fingers and he pressed a kiss to her wrist.
This was also new.
The constant contact.
Before—even though she knew it wasn’t fair to compare the past to the present, it seemed to happen without her acknowledging it—he had been polite. Sweet, tender, but reserved.
Not now.
Now when they were in the same room, he was touching her in one way or another. Playing with her hair, his hand on her back, tangling his fingers with hers.
With every warm caress she grew more addicted to it. To him.
She never knew she wanted more physical contact in a relationship but now she would never be able to go without it.
Which was one of the things on her mind.
Was it sustainable? Surely it would burn out, right? Or at least mellow.
“Just tell me what’s on your mind,” he prodded gently.
“Are we being ridiculous?” she asked, surprised the words came out. She hadn’t planned on saying anything.
“I hope so,” he replied and then chuckled. “I have a feeling you mean something else though.”
She chewed on her bottom lip and stared up at the ceiling fan above them. It turned slowly, blowing cool air on their heated skin. It was all so peaceful and perfect.
So why was she having these thoughts?
“I think I just need reassurance. One more time,” she confessed.
“There are no limits on how many times you can ask me something. Tell me what you need to know,” he said.
I need to know it’s safe to love you. That you’ll stay this time.
But she couldn’t say that out loud.
Could she?
He sat up, pressed his back to the headboard and patted the space beside him. She scooted up to where he indicated, and he wrapped the sheets around her and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as he looked at her with tender patience.
“Tell me what you’re afraid of,” he coaxed.
And there it was again. This sense ofrightthat came with André looking in her eyes. It was so hard to remember all the things that worried her with his calm assurance holding her.
“This.” She indicated the two of them. “This is good.”
He cracked a smile. “Yeah. It’s very good.”
Having him say it too tied up a loose string in her heart she hadn’t even noticed was floating in the breeze.
“I want you to stay,” she said so softly she wasn’t sure he heard her.
He ran a thumb along her cheek, his face serious. “Nicole,” he said, voice rough. “I am never running away again. I am so sorry I introduced that fear to you. I will spend the rest of my life proving that no matter what, I am yours. I will always show up, and I will always be there.”
“I love you, you know,” she said. “I never stopped.”
His lips came down on hers in a crushing kiss. His tongue thrust inside in a claiming, urgent move and she moaned in response. He pulled back, holding her face in both hands, his eyes wild and dark.
