Page 84 of How to Love a Rockstar

“Boys will be boys.”

“What a cop out.”

Relief courses through me at his words. He gets it. He understands.

“Even when they brought the snake to my room and kept shoving it into my face and I was screaming in terror, her response didn’t change.”

Dylan pulls me into his arms. “I don’t need to hear any more. I’ve heard enough. Your family is a bunch of assholes.”

I cringe. “I don’t like to call them a-words.”

He pinches my chin and lifts it until our eyes meet. His blue eyes are full of anger. “And I don’t like knowing you were tormented as a child.”

“I’m not weak.”

“I never said you were.”

“I sound weak.”

“Is that why you didn’t tell me this before?”

I consider lying but if I want Dylan and I have to have a chance at a future, he needs to know the truth. All of it.

“I thought you’d dump me if you knew the truth.”

“Dump you? Why the hell would I dump you because your mom is weak, your step-dad is an asshole, and your step-brothers tormented you?”

“This is why I love you. No matter what I say you’re on my side. It’s …” I trail off when I realize he’s staring at me with his mouth gaping open. “What’s wrong? Do you want to dump me after all? I understand. I—”

My words are cut off when he melds his lips to mine. I gasp and he shoves his tongue into my mouth. His clean and fresh scent hits me and I sink into the kiss. I forget all about my family and my embarrassment about having a panic attack in front of the entire town.

All I can think about is him. Dylan. The man I love. The man who makes my entire body go up in flames.

I climb into his lap and cling to his shoulders as his tongue strokes against mine. As he explores every inch of my mouth. As if he can’t get enough. As if he’ll never get enough.

When he rips his mouth from mine, he’s gasping for breath. “You love me?”

“What?” I do, but I didn’t tell him. Did I?

“You can’t take the words back now.”

I rewind our conversation in my mind. I groan when I realize the ‘I love you’ slipped out.

“I know it’s too soon. I promise I’m not a stage five clinger.”

He chuckles. “It’s not too soon and you can cling as much as you want. I want you to cling.”

“You want me to cling? I’m confused. Men don’t want clingy women.” I’ve read enough romance novels to know this is true.

“I love you. I want you near me all the time. But I didn’t say anything because I thought you’d run away if you knew how I feel about you.”

My eyes are the size of saucers by the time he’s finished. “You. Love. Me?”

He palms my neck and lays his forehead against mine. “I love you, Virginia Hale.”

“Despite knowing what a wimp I was growing up and watching me have a panic attack over a prank?”

He squeezes my neck. “One, you aren’t a wimp. You were tortured. Your mother should be ashamed of herself. In fact, what’s your mother’s name and address?”

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