Page 130 of Rule Breakers Fall Hardest

It’s what I’ve always wanted.

Him.

But along with desire, I’m filled with a sense of terror.

I finally have him back in my life, and as much as I want more, I’m scared of taking that step and losing him.

Losing him once was heartbreaking.

Losing him twice?

Devastating.

I exhale, my breath shaky.

He hovers above me, those denim blue eyes regarding me so sincerely, like he can read my mind.

“Baby,” he murmurs.

I close my eyes at the tone of his voice—the understanding.

“I’m not going anywhere.” The assurance is genuine, pleading. “Not again. Do you feel this?” He grabs my hand and presses it against his rapidly beating heart. “It’syours. No one else’s.” He cups my cheek, inhaling the breath I exhale. “I love you.”

The world around me goes silent.

I no longer hear my fan whirring in the corner of the room or the sound of our mingled breathing. Not even the rustle of the sheets reaches my ears.

Daire Hendricks loves me.

Myhusbandloves me.

Love. Love. Love.

Those words echo like a pinball through my skull. My heart bursts at the notion, my lungs burning with the need to respond.

“Say it again,” I beg on a whisper.

He lowers over me, hands braced on the mattress on either side of my shoulders like he’s doing a pushup.

“I love you.” He enunciates each word, focus fixed intently on my face, making sure I don’t miss it.

Iandloveandyou.

Three of the simplest words in the English language, but when they’re put together like that, an entire universe exists in them.

“You love me?”

“That’s what I said, Rosie girl.”

“Have you ever told another girl you love her?”

My stomach twists while I wait for him to respond. I don’t know what makes me ask it. Maybe a sprinkle of jealousy, but mostlycuriosity.

“Never.” His eyes, shining with honesty, never stray from mine. “It was always meant to be you. I’m sorry I was such an idiot.”

I giggle, the bed jostling with my laughter, but Daire never wavers above me. The chain around his neck dangles close to my face. I grab it and gently pull him closer.

“We were both idiots.” Arching up, I close the distance between our mouths and kiss him.

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