Chapter 96
Chapter 96
"I've been too much of a coward to tell you while you're awake, and I'm sorry for that. I didn't want to scare you away. I can't. I don't want to lose you. Katrina"
Katrina did turn around then, tears in her eyes, her face
entirely fro
You could never scare me away. Kylan I haven't. All this time, I've been by your side. I've been patient. I've been underganding. There's not a damn thing you could say that would make me not be completely in love with your stubborn, grumpy, kind, warm ass." She didn't disguise the emotion in her voice. She wanted Kylan in understand. To know how much she loved him. How much she would always love him
The expression on Kylan's face. It was He was. Shit, he really did love her. It was clear. As clear as the sky on a sunny darnn day.
His eyes were brimaning with it Overflowing with words, emotions, the feelings he didn't know how to say
She let out an embarrassing whimper, flinging her wet hands around his neck and hugging him tighter than she ever had. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to him and releasing a long, slow, exhale.
"I love you, Kylan, I love you" She sobbed those words, sniffling, her heart nearly exploding with the truth that she had been holding Kylan gingerly shifted so that he could take hold of her face, his thumbs brushing the tears away that pooled beneath her e bark
"I love you. Katrina. You're the only person I've ever been in love with, and the only person I ever want to be in love with. Rylan's own eyes were full of tears, and she heard herself laughing.
"You're a pain in the ass, Kylan Ross. My pain in the ass. Forever mine." Her hands fisted in the back of his hair and her lips ascended on his kissing him with every ounce of passion, every unfiltered emotion that she possibly could.
Tim yours. As long as you want me, kylan spoke against her lips.
She hammed, resting her forehead against his.
"Will you make love
to me. Kylan?" It was the first time, the first real instance that she had ever referred to their passion in that way.
"Every damn day, if you'll let me." With that. Kylan picked her up bridal style, carrying her over to the staircase and walking her up to the loft.
0-0-0-
Katrina would never tire of this. She would never become bored of Kylan. She would never grow used to making love to him, feeling him inside ber, hearing how much he cared for her.
She would never take for granted the fact that Kylan let her in, let her see him in a way that he hid from the rest of the world. She would never stop being grateful that he knew she was just the same, and he knew exactly how to make her feel safe and seen. It wouldn't ever be easy, it wouldn't be a perfect journey, but it would be hers. It would be her own journey with Kylan. Her own path with him. She didn't need perfect. She didn't want perfect
She wanted real. She wanted someone who believed in her, who pushed her to be the best version of herself. She wanted to do the same, to be the same for someone else,
She wanted Kylan.
Her former boss
Her best friend.
Her parter.
Her equal
as the warmth of his release flooded her insides, she smiled. Really
-0-0-0-
distinction of where she ended, and Kylan began. She stared out at the gently falling snow. Kylan's fingers grazing up and down her arm in lazy passes own fingers
on her wrist and
bracelets. The one with broken edges, barely holding it all together. And the
loved each bit of Kylan, the good and the bad, the frayed and the neat. And
all those months ago, she spoke into the quiet of the night, distant sounds of the time still burning in the hearth on the floor below her, floating up to meet her words. Clupter
properly thank the top of her
that I feel it, I feel all of it,"
It's enough," she sighed, pressing
the next few hours, whispering in each other in the soft glow of
trees and
fell asleep in the arms of her safe haven, the keeper of her heart, on a bed in the
www.
Just like she wanted
like she dreamed
a good dream. An unbeatable
was
a nightmare that night, and neither did
SIX MONTHS LATER
Growth. Healing. Genuine happiness.
amounts of relief and smiles was ever present in her relationship with
her in more than others. There were times he allowed his fear, his worry to dictate his decisions and to rule aspects of his personal life.
uncertainty, the shadows and ghosts that Kylan could never quite get away from, she could see
her. To hold her hand.
at all. He kept her informed, and she developed
thing she wanted from him during those moments, was for him to verbalize that he needed space. It helped her to hear those words from him. Those words let her know for certain it
come. Every time. He would come to her. He would seek comfort
was thankful he was working on himself. She was grateful he was beginning to care about his happiness and his well- bring. It was long overdue, and it was special to witness the process in such an intimate, up-close fashion Overall, bring with Kylan on his good days, and her good days, was Easy
just worked. They balanced each other out. Kylan pushed her to better herself,
abilmes both in and out of the office, and she gave him equal courtesy. It was nice. Domestic, when those good days
longer Kylan went to therapy, the more frequent slays, and moods like that
off in such a way that their relationship no longer needed to be a public spectacle. This also took a ridiculous amount of pressure off her professional and personal shoulders, and she was
were the days of publicized dates, staged photos and
her feel like Kylan really was with her because he loved her, and not for the reputation she helped him to obtain. It wasn't even that she doubted him, in all
0
completely. She was content in her new normal Quire like almost every other day, she was sprawled out across
show Kylan insisted on watching, filled the living room around them. Her attention was pulled to a book in her lap, an oversized blanket covering her lower half to
under her, drawing her out
between the pages to save her place. She glanced at her phone,
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