Addicted to You(69)

“Well, if that’s not love, I don’t know what is,” he teased, then reached for my hand and tugged me to him.

“My life has come completely unhinged lately, yet when I think about a life without you—all the security and happiness and excitement are gone. You’re important to me in a way no one else could be.”

He cupped my cheek again in that way only he could, and whispered, “I feel the same way, Isla, and had you let me finish earlier”—he grinned—“I would have told you that you are, by far, the best part of my life. I’ve liked you for a long time.”

“Except you said but…”

He nodded. “Because I was going to say that I like you but I want more.”

Leave it to me to jump the gun and almost ruin his heart-to-heart. I bit my lip to prevent any more words from slipping out.

His fingers glided into my hair and his smile softened right along with his gaze. “I’ve been trying so hard lately to make others happy at my expense, but last night I finally realized I deserve to be happy too. And the thing that’s missing is you. I need you in my life, Isla. Right by my side. Now and always, because I love you. So much it’s crazy.”

I laughed because when it came to crazy…“I’m certifiable, lock-me-up, crazy in love with you.”

“I’d expect nothing less from my Isla.”

And if that didn’t have the power to do me in, nothing would. Tears that I didn’t even know I was capable of producing sprung to life and flooded my eyes, blurring the perfect vision before me. Crying had always seemed a form of weakness. Tears arose only from anger or sadness. Who would have ever known that happiness could produce the biggest tears of all? I laughed and wiped at them.

“I’m a mess.”

“You’re beautiful.”

“Can we have sex on your kitchen table?”

He laughed. “Sure, but I’d prefer the bed.”

“I’m kind of serious.”

He grinned. “So am I.”

He took my hand and led me down the hall just as he’d done the first time. But this time there were no what ifs or worry. He glanced back and smiled at me and I beamed in return. Because this was right. How it always should’ve been. Our first time together should have been filled with these exact same emotions.

I’d loved him just as much back then as I did now, but I’d stifled all that and sold myself short. I’d been willing to take one night with Colby rather than ask for more. But never again. From here on out, we’d be honest.

He closed the door behind me and led me to the bed. “It’s not the kitchen table, but…”

I laughed, loving that we could be Colby and Isla again. “Just trying to break down those walls and help you explore other possibilities.”

“Baby steps. Let’s start with the bed and then we can work our way through the house.”

I tossed his hat on the bed then tugged at his shirt, sliding it over his stomach. “Sounds fun.”

He helped pull it over his head and off. “It does.” Then he worked up my shirt, pulling it off as well.

He sat on the bed and pulled me down with him. I lay back and he angled himself over me. “I love your hair.” He ran his hand through it, twirling a lock around his finger. “And your nose.” He kissed it. “You scrunch it a lot.”

“I do?”

He laughed “You just did. It’s adorable.”

“It was you.” I ran my fingers along his neck, finding those long overgrown wisps of hair I loved. “My favorite color, the note with the flowers, the croissants. It was all you.”

He shrugged.

“You paid attention when no one else was watching.”

“It’s impossible not to.”

I urged his mouth down to mine. “Colby Callahan, you are by far the most perfect guy in the history of all guys. It is no wonder I have spent almost ten years of my life in love with you.”

He pulled back. “Ten years?”

Oops. Maybe I admitted too much, too soon.

His mouth tugged up a tiny bit on one side. “You were wearing blue.” Then the smile stretched its way to the other side.

I yanked him down and kissed him, because holy shit, how could I not just eat him up right then?

It was funny how I’d always been certain it was impossible to love anyone more than I loved him, then about ten minutes ago he proved me wrong. Because I could love more than that. I could love him more. But for sure that was it. The swelling heart. The happy tears. That was as good as it got, right? Then he did it again. He blew me out of the water and I fell in love with him even more. And I doubted that this would be the last time. I had a pretty strong feeling that with each passing day, just when I didn’t think it was possible, I’d somehow find it in me to love him more than I did the moment before.