I got up and walked over to her chair.
Crouching in front of her, I brushed my lips against her shoulder.
“Because I’m in love with you, that’s why. You think it’s all about the baby, but you don’t see. You don’t get it. I fucking adore you. I love you so much it burns.”
I paused and moved closer to her, cupping her cheek.
“Lee, when I told you that you ruined me, I meant it. You have. I’m done, baby. You fucking own me. I’m yours. I couldn’t be more yours, baby.”
Lee looked down at me, her eyes full of tears. She let out a choked sob.
“You do?” she whispered.
I nodded. “Yeah, I do, I always have.”
“You’ve never said it.” She shook her head. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Kyle, I’ve spent months believing that you don’t love me. I’ve based decisions on the notion, that you’d never love me.”
I shrugged apologetically. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m shit with words.”
“But you do love me?” she asked nervously. “You are in love with me?”
“I’m desperately in, I undoubtedly do, and I fervently will, forever.”
“You’re not shit with words,” she muttered, smiling through her tears.
Happy tears, I hoped.
Unable to resist, I slid my hand behind her neck, and pulled her face to mine.
Our lips brushed once, then twice, before I deepened the kiss, running my tongue across her lower lip until she groaned and opened up for me.
Her hands slipped around my neck to cradle my head, as I put everything I had, into kissing her.
Stroking her cheek with my thumb, I wiped away the dampness under her eyes.
I pulled back to look at her.
“Why are you crying, princess?”
She sniffled as she played with the hair at the nape of my neck. “You need a haircut.”
Okay, not what I was expecting…
“I’ll get on that,” I chuckled, brushing my lips against hers lightly.
Lee sighed loudly and leaned into me.
“I just miss you so much. But I’m so scared. My brain is screaming at me to run. And my heart…Is saying don’t you dare.”
I rubbed her lip with my thumb, stroked her hair. I couldn’t help myself.
“Which one is winning?” I whispered, almost afraid of her answer, but needing it, just as badly.
I needed a break, just one tiny opening into Lee’s heart.
If she’d just let me back in, I could show her, prove to her I was good enough; could be good enough for her.
She sighed. “I should tell you my brain. That would be the smart thing to say.”
My fucking heart was ripping to shreds from her words. I turned my face away, and nodded.
Lee placed her palm on my cheek, forcing me to look at her.
“But I’m not a liar,” she whispered. “So, I won’t tell you that.”
My lips covered hers before she could change her mind.
“I still need time,” she muttered, pulling away from my mouth.
I nodded, and pulled her mouth back to mine. I’d agree to anything, as long as she kept letting me kiss her.
“I’ll give you anything you want,” I vowed, between kisses. “Just give me a little hope. Tell me there’s a chance.”
Pulling back, I stared into her eyes. “Say it, princess. Tell me you’ll try, and I’ll give you whatever the hell you want.”
Lee closed her eyes, as she sighed shakily. “I’ll try.”
“I won’t let you down again.”
My face broke into the biggest fucking smile ever. “I mean it, baby, I’ll never let you down again.”
Lee nodded, as a small, shy smile, crept across her face. “If we are going to do this, Kyle, then we need to take it slow.”
She held my hands in hers, and then smiled softly. “I love you, too, Kyle. I want to be with you. I just need you to go slow with me. Be gentle, and please, please don’t hurt me.”
*****
Lee
We were going to do this.
I couldn’t keep the goofy smile from my face.
Kyle was my boyfriend. And he loved me. My boyfriend, was in love with me.
His words earlier tonight, were still dancing around in my head.
I had the strongest urge to get out of bed and sneak into his room. He had that effect on me.
But we needed to take this slowly.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Kyle
I had hope.
I had a huge motherfucking pile of hope, churning around inside of me, and it was all because of, and directed towards, the girl curled up on my lap.
I couldn’t believe how many of the small details I’d forgotten, in the months since I’d last held Lee in my arms.
I’d forgotten about the small, strawberry shaped birth mark she had behind her ear, hidden by her soft brown curls.