Page 144 of Trigger

“Tye?”

“Yeah, babe?”

“What is this? I mean… what are we doing?”

There were a billion ways to answer his question, some sweet, somedirty, and some I didn’t dare utter. Finally, I compromised.

“It’s not a one-time thing, that’s for sure,” I deadpanned. “Andif you tell me that it’s a two-time thing, I will un-friend you. And un-partneryou.”

He chuckled. “What is it then?”

Till death do us part?

“It can be whatever you want it to be,” I replied, nuzzling hisnose. “How about a relationship?”

He looked at me, gnawing at his lip.

“Is that what you want?”

“I would love that,” I replied honestly. “You?”

He mulled it over, making my heart go berserk in my chest until hefinally nodded.

I brushed a strand of hair off his forehead. “Yeah? Are yousure?”

“Yes,” he whispered. “I want you, Tye. I want us.”

His admission destroyed the last reservation inside me, if I evenhad one. I leaned in and gave him a kiss on the lips, because… damn.

“I want us too,” I murmured. “God, you have no idea how much Ilove—”

Fuck.

I blurted it out.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Maybe he didn’t hear.

I raised my head to look at him, only to see the jungle greensobserving me cautiously. I bit my lip, feeling like a fool, but I was a fool inlove, so entitled to all kinds of stupidity.

“Look, Dom, uh…” I mumbled, stalling. “How to put it… erm… Ah,fuck, I’ll just say it. I love you, okay? I love you. Maybe it’s too soon, andmaybe I’ll chase you away by saying it, but I can’t… I can’t not say it whenit’s all that I feel. Please don’t run away. I’ll never say it again if youdon’t want—”

He put his finger on my lips. “Shut up, you idiot.”

Oh, okay, so I fucked it up.

“I’m s-sorry,” I muttered, panicking because I couldn't imaginelosing him, not anymore. “Let’s just forget this happened and—”

He caressed my cheek. “You won’t chase me away, Tye, because Ifeel the same. I had no idea until now, but as soon as you said it, I knew it.I felt it… here.” He pointed at his heart. “Maybe you rubbed it in me whilemassaging my anxiety away. Or maybe you forced me to love you by bringing downmy walls over and over again, and trust me, I know I have them. I could giveyou a million reasons for loving you, but I’ll just say you’re the mostwonderful person I know. That should cover it.”

I rested my head on his chest and shook my head. “Fuck you,Dominic. You’re not making me cry.”

He chuckled. “Big bad Tye Thorsen cries?”

“Big bad Tye Thorsen is crazy about you.”

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