Page 106 of Love Him Like Water

I couldn’t tell you how long we stayed like that, just close, just kissing, but when I finally pulled back, my lips felt swollen and fuzzy.

When Lore’s eyes fluttered open, the look in them stole my fucking breath.

I didn’t know shit about it.

But I could swear it was love I was looking at.

I felt that tugging sensation again in my chest, and found myself wondering if that was what that was too.

“Like that?” I asked, voice low, not wanting to disrupt the dreamy look she had on her face.

She shot me a little smile and nodded.

“I can get behind doing that,” I said, tucking her hair behind her ear. “As often as you want,” I added. “Anything else?” I asked.

“I just…” she started, then squeezed her eyes closed, her forehead pressing to mine before she could continue. “I just want you to care about me,” she said, voice small and raw.

“Hey,” I said, voice a little firmer as I pulled back, snagging her chin in my fingers, and forcing her face back up. “Look at me,” I demanded when she kept her gaze lowered. “I do care about you. I might not have been any good at showing it, but I always have. Okay?”

“Okay,” she agreed.

“I’ll get better at showing it. What?” I asked when she looked unconvinced.

“You can’t… change people,” she said.

“You can’t change me,” I agreed. “But I can change me. Think this is one of those when you know better, you do better type of situations, right? Now I know. And I’ll do better. I fucking promise, Lore. If you come back with me, I’ll do better.”

She watched me for a long moment before her eyes went all watery, and a tear slipped down her cheek.

“What’s this?” I asked, reaching out to wipe it away with my thumb.

“I just really hope you mean that,” she said, blinking the other tears back.

“I do mean it,” I assured her. “Come home with me, mouse,” I said, finger tracing across her jaw.

“Okay,” she said, sucking in a deep breath.

“Okay?” I asked, scared of being too fucking hopeful.

“Yeah,” she said, giving me a small smile as she suddenly turned away from me and climbed off of the bed.

I did the same, meeting her near the door, and reaching to grab the lapels of the jacket she had on.

“I like how this looks on you,” I told her, using it to pull her closer until her body was against mine, and leaning down to claim her lips again. A little harder, hungrier. But I pulled away before either of us could get any ideas.

We moved out into the common area to find an anxious looking Nico stopping mid-pace to look at us.

“I’ll let you talk to your brother for a minute, mouse,” I said, giving her wrist a squeeze before moving across the room to take myself out into the hall.

Alone, I leaned against the wall, letting out a deep breath.

I got her back.

And, fuck, I would do everything in my power to make her never feel like leaving again.

The door opened a few minutes later, a resigned-looking Nico with his arm around his little sister.

“Oh, I forgot my shoes,” Lore said, rolling her eyes at herself, then turning to rush back to the bedroom.

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