Page 121 of Tame Me

‘I’m not like any of those people at your party,’ I whisper, unable to stop my insecurities escaping. ‘They’re all cultured and elegant and well educated. I don’t even have formal barista qualifications, let alone a degree—’

‘Neither do I.’ He shrugs and then chuckles. ‘My grandfather died and I skipped study and went straight to work and learned everything by experience. Same as you. We both work hard. We’re both curious. We both want the best for everyone around us...’

That’s true.

‘I never wanted any of those people. I never wanted anyone the way I want you. And it’s only you I’ll ever want. The night we met, you pushed a universal override on every defence I thought I had. And you were never blinded by the superficial things that surround me in a way that’s sometimes suffocating.’

‘Your poor-little-rich-boy trappings?’

‘Trappings is right. I was a fool. I thought my value depended on the success I made of my family company.’ His smile is rueful.

‘It was the one stable thing you could control.’

‘Right,’ he mutters. ‘But the night we met you saw something else in me.’

‘I thought you were a stripper,’ I mumble.

His smile explodes. ‘And for you I can be,’ he purrs. ‘Any time you want. But only ever for you.’

Warmth spreads inside and what little grip I have left on my emotion slips. ‘You were gorgeous. And funny.’

‘Because you bring out my playful side. Only with you can I relax. I can let go. Because I trust you.’

Those words break me.

‘You’re beautiful and funny and I want you to stay with me. Always. I was too afraid to admit it,’ he whispers. ‘But I love you, Talia. I love you totally. I don’t ever want to hurt you and I know you never want to hurt me either. But we hurt each other a bit last night.’

My lungs have shrunk. I can’t get enough oxygen to my brain. ‘I was trying to control the ending. I thought you didn’t...’ I start to sob but still try to speak ‘...wouldn’t ever...want me always. Let alone...’

‘Love you,’ he finishes for me, and repeats what I still can’t believe. ‘I love you.’ He lets go of my hands at last and cups my face. ‘And I can’t go through another night like last night.’

I blink but the tears still fall.

‘Neither of us do well with uncertainty,’ he says. ‘So know this. I love you and I will never leave you. We’re always going to be together.’

I finally smile even though I’m crying more than before and he pulls me into a hug and it’s everything I need. I feel the emotion overwhelming him too—his breathing shudders and his body quakes with the intensity of relief. I clutch him and bury my face in his chest.

‘I just want us to be together,’ he mutters. ‘Our little family. And it can be what we make it, right?’

I nod eagerly.

‘I think we were doing pretty well with it, actually,’ he says almost shyly. ‘Not like my parents. Not like yours either. We’re different people. I know I need to open up more.’

‘It’s hard to open up,’ I mumble.

‘It is. But it’s also not. I like talking to you, Talia. I like trusting you. And I’m so grateful for Lukas. He’s our miracle and I give thanks for him every day, especially now. He’s helped speed everything up.’

I can’t help my smile. ‘You want to speed up now?’

‘No.’ He smiles back. ‘I want to go very, very slow.’

Slow is torture. Slow is bliss. Slow is absolutely everything I need.

He kisses me with such reverence that I start to shake. ‘Dain...’

‘Shh. Let me love you. I want to love you.’

I understand. As impossible as it ought to be, this is even more melting than the indulgence he’s given me before because this time the underpinning emotion is given full and free expression. His hands sweep over me and I feel him tremble with restraint.

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