Page 79 of Hearts on the Mend

“Each night I crawl into bed, and I think of the night we met. My damn vibrator always runs out of batteries. I can’t fight this anymore, baby. Once wasn’t enough. Twice surely wasn’t. I’m willing to risk my heart if it means I get all of you.”

Her breathing quickens, and I struggle to keep myself together. “You’re so damn grumpy, and maybe that works for everyone else, but it doesn’t scare me away because I know your secret.”

Where she’s concerned? There’s only one, but I don’t think I’ll be able to keep it much longer. Not at this rate.

“What’s that?”

“Your heart. You’re so scared to love, but I like you more than you hate yourself.”

I don’t have a chance to respond before she comes on a soft shudder. Cassie bites her bottom lip, her thighs shaking, as she stares at me. The space between us is too big.

I step out of the shower and brace my hands on the mirror on either side of her head. I bend, raking my teeth over the curve of her shoulder before I lick away the pain.

“Say please, Cassie.”

When she doesn’t, I trace my mouth over the column of her neck and bite again at the corner of her jaw, satisfied when she whimpers. I continue, kissing a line down her body, not using my lips and hands where she wants me most. She’s shaking beneath me. The water’s still running; the room is steamy now. Finally, I reach her feet and slip off her heels.

“Say it,” I urge.

“Please.”

I palm one breast, then draw the other into my mouth, running my teeth lightly over her nipple until I can feel her arch underneath me.

“I want you to know I care about you. But I’m going to be rough now, understand?”

She leans against my shoulder, nodding.

I gently push her back and cup her face in my hand. “No hiding. You need to say it. You need to say you understand.”

“I do.” She licks her lips. “I understand.”

I rip her panties, tossing them aside before I lift her and drag her back into the shower with me. Besides that night in my bed, I haven’t allowed her to see my scars, but I’m done hiding too.

I press her against the tiles, her legs wrapped around my waist, her arms tight around my neck as the water streams down between us.

“I don’t want to fight.” I kiss her neck. “You are so fucking pretty, honey.”

She grinds against me, eager to bounce on my dick, and I want it, believe me, but I have to say what’s been stuck in my throat too since our fight.

“I think I love you.”

She stills in my arms, a soft exhale leaving her pouty lips. For a second she just looks at me, like she’s quickly tallying how much it’s going to hurt if this all goes wrong. Then she exhales, licks her lips, and searches my eyes.

I could fall headfirst into her stare, into the layers of dark greens and the small ring of gold surrounding her pupils. Spent half my life jumping into country that looked the same without being half as dangerous.

“No, not think. I do.” My voice cracks on my confirmation. I’m not holding it back any longer. Can’t. But I hate how badly I need to hear her say something back. “And you⁠—”

“I love you too, Nolan.”

Like a fucking crown run. That’s how it hits me. When fire jumps from the treetops, faster than anything has a right to move. That’s what hearing her say she loves me does.

I brush back her wet hair from her face, a grin tugging at my lips. I kiss her softly, but that edge of desperation won’t quiet, and it turns hungry.

Cassie taps my shoulder, and I release her legs. She presses her hands against the glass, juts out her hips, offering me that perfect pussy of hers. “The water’s getting cold.”

I fist her hair and gently wrap it around my hand. My other hand runs down the curve of her back, along her ass, before I sweep my fingers up between her thighs.

“Tell me,” I growl, leaning forward. “Tell me it’s me and you still. That you’re mine.”