Nicole had the feeling she would still be in love with him until the day she died. She'd never loved another and something like that didn't just fall away. She would certainly lose a piece of her soul when he ended it.
Ryan spun her around the room in a gentle dance that was for just the two of them. He bent his head down and took her lips with his in such tender passion her heart grew to twice its normal size. She ran her hands up his neck and pulled him even closer.
He broke apart from her and took a step back, leaving her unsure and aching. He never broke contact with her and she didn't think that was a good sign. She didn't know it but she was looking at him with her heart in her eyes and Ryan knew at that moment she loved him. As long as she loved him the rest would fall into place.
"I want you badly, never doubt that but tonight is about romance and if I keep kissing you dinner will be forgotten and we'll end up in bed," he growled at her. Her chest puffed up with pride. She knew it was only sex but weren't many other relationships built on so much less than that.
Ryan sat her down at the table and within moments a plate was set before her. They ate their meal and she found herself relaxing. He'd gone to a lot of trouble to give her a romantic night and she was feeling the effects of it. He poured her a glass of champagne and she didn't say anything but made sure she didn't pick it up instead of her water.
Over their dessert, Ryan took her hand in his and started caressing her wrist, which immediately sent her pulse skyrocketing. She didn't think she'd ever get enough of him.
"Nicole, you're unlike any other woman I've ever known and before you get all defensive, that's a good thing. You're beautiful, without a doubt but you're also compassionate, loyal, giving, passionate, stubborn and everything else any man could possibly ever want. I started this relationship wanting to punish you for leaving me. No don't try and pull away, let me finish," he said to her when she tried removing her hands.
She squirmed in her seat but stopped trying to pull away. She could hear him out but it sounded as if he was about to break up with her and she didn't know how she was going to listen to him with her heart breaking apart. She wanted to rub her stomach and somehow guard her unborn child from hearing his words.
"I'm trying to say I screwed up. I tried to punish you for leaving me but I know what really happened. Patsy talked to me and I wish so much you would've told me. I would have been there for you and protected you. I loved you then and I love you now and it nearly destroys me to know I wasn't there to keep you safe. I should've been the one taking your pain. I should've known something was wrong but I let pride get in my way. I'll never let that happen again. I'm laying my heart before you, right here and now. I love you, Nicole and I can't imagine my life without you in it. Please accept my love and let me protect you for the rest of my life," he said tenderly, never breaking eye-contact.
Nicole couldn't even breathe as tears trailed down her cheeks. She'd thought he was breaking up with her and instead he was giving her his love. She didn't see how she deserved such an amazing man. She hated him knowing about the abuse. It made her feel weak, but as she looked into his eyes she realized he didn't think of her as weak at all. She believed he really did love her. She stared at him in wonder.
Her hand drifted up to his face. He said nothing else to her. He simply held her hand and waited for her to get her emotions under control. She stared into his eyes, looking for anything there that may belly his words. She saw nothing but love and acceptance within their depths.
"I love you too, Ryan. I always have and I had to send you away back then because I didn't want you to know how weak I was," she began.
"Don't you dare ever say you were weak. You're the strongest person I've ever known and you took all that punishment for your sister's sake. You took the weight of the world on your shoulders, you stubborn fool. I would've gladly taken that weight for you but I understand why you did it. Now, you have me by your side and we can conquer anything as long as we're together," he interrupted her.
"I was a fool Ryan, I always blamed myself for the beatings and I thought you would be horrified and leave me anyway if you knew about it. I was so young," she said in explanation.
"Tell me again," he demanded and she knew what he wanted to hear.
"I love you Ryan Titan, I always have and I always will, even when you're driving me insane with your cave-man ways," she said, with true joy in her voice. She knew they'd be fine. She knew her life would be okay from that day forward. He crushed her lips beneath his before she could tell him about the baby.
It was several minutes before they broke apart for air and she was left even more breathless by the pure love shining through his eyes. He suddenly let go of her and dropped to his knee. She gasped in shock and more tears tracked down her face.