Page 86 of Fitch

He smirked. “You were right before too.” His eyes searched mine. “You are exactly what I need.”

Holy shit.

“And you’re exactly what I need too. I’ve been thinking all day about you railing me the second I walk through your door.”

His smile faltered, and something in his eyes faded away. “I’m not just talking about sex. I’m talking about you. You, this, us.”

Oh, holy fucking shit.

I needed to say something, tell him I felt the same, but I froze. Fear of rejection, fear of losing the one good thing in my life stopped me.

He ducked his head and pushed up off me, sliding to the end of the sofa. “I get it, Fitch. I don’t expect you to reciprocate, but you should know, I...” He shook his head. “You know what? Tonight’s not the best time for this conversation. You were just trying to comfort me and I ruined it.”

Holy fucking fuck.

He stood up and fixed his suit pants. “I’ll order some takeout. Did you want to have a shower?”

And I just lay there like I’d been shot.

Tell him, Fitch. Say something. Tell him how you feel.

Dominic’s face fell as he took a step back.

Get up, Fitch. You dumb fucking fuck, don’t you dare fuck this up.

I shot up off the couch. “I love you,” I blurted out.

Okay, probably not what I should have led with but it’s too fucking late now.

Dominic turned to face me, and I didn’t know what to do, so I panicked.

“I’ve fallen in love with you,” I said. And then I panicked some more because I needed to explain... “And I’m sorry. I never meant to, and to be honest, I’ve never actually loved someone before so I’m probably doing it all wrong and it scares the bejesus out of me, because my parents unloved me when I came out and then I found you and you’re the best thing to ever happen to me. You make me feel safe and loved and I didn’t want to ruin that by bringing my heart into it because you’re a rich lawyer and I’m a hooker, and if you ever said you didn’t want me anymore, it’d fucking kill me, and this is why I shouldn’t have got attached because people I love always leave me?—”

Dominic strode toward me and collected me in a crushing hug. He picked me up, both my feet off the floor, and he held me, his face in my neck.

“I love you too,” he whispered. “You’re everything I need. You know what I need even when I don’t.” He put me back on my feet and cupped my face. “I don’t care what we are. Lawyer, hooker, whatever. I don’t care. I don’t care what anyone else thinks. I only care what you think and how you feel and how you make me feel. That’s all that matters.” He kissed me, soft and sweet. “And I’m sorry your parents hurt you, but I promise I will never unlove you.”

I snorted back a laugh as tears rolled down my cheeks. “You love me?”

He pressed his lips to mine. “So fucking much.”

I half laughed, half cried and wiped away my stupid tears. “I mean, you’ve met me, right? Are you okay in the head? Because I’m a lot.”

Dominic laughed, and hugging me again, he spun me around. “You are a lot, but so am I. Fitch, there isn’t one thing I’d change about you.”

Not one thing?

I tilted my head. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

He laughed until he sighed. “Oh, Fitch. I’ve never been happier. I wanted to tell you before but it was never the right time. I didn’t want to make you feel cornered, and I didn’t want to jeopardise this agreement because it was the only way I could see you.”

I shook my head. “I want to see you every day. I want to be here with you all the time, in your bed, in your kitchen, in your shower, over the back of the sofa.” I slid my arms around his waist and looked up at him. “It’s not just the sex, Dominic. It’s you. Sure, you tick every box in the sex department, but it’s more than that. You make me feel so safe. And that might seem weirdto you, but for me, that’s fucking huge. I need you to know that. I’m safe to be me, safe from harm, just safe. No one can hurt me when I’m with you, and I am scared about what it means, about what happens when you get sick of me or don’t want me anymore, or?—”

He shook his head. “No, baby. I love you. We can work everything else out. Details, incidentals, fine print, whatever. We’ll be okay, as long as we talk and be honest. And yes, it scares me too. I’m forty-six and you’re young enough to maybe want someone not as old as me. Maybe not now but in a few years...”

I was so happy and a little surprised that he could speak about his insecurities with me. I put my hand over his heart. “No. I don’t care about that. Your age isn’t what makes you my daddy. It’s what’s in here.” I tapped his chest. “This is what speaks to me.”

He closed his eyes and kissed me. “I’ll be okay, as long as I have you.”

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