Page 21 of Destined
Serena’s statement slammed into Sebastian. It was the first time she’d said the words out loud, and he was unprepared for it. But as he took stock of his reaction, he realised it didn’t make him want to run for the door. Again. By accepting his feelings, he realised it actually made him want to see this through. He’d come to the realisation that he loved Serena during the months he’d had to think while he’d been in Italy. He just had to share his feelings with her.
“Sebastian, I think it would be best if—”
Cutting her off when he realised what Serena was about to say, he framed her face with both his hands and leaned in to kiss her with all the love and frustration he was feeling.
Breaking the kiss, Sebastian gently leaned his forehead against hers and pulled in a deep breath.
“Ti amo, cuore mio. Sei la mia vita.”
“I don’t understand.”
Serena’s soft entreaty made Sebastian realise he’d lapsed into his native language. Lifting his head, he tilted her head back so he was looking into her eyes.
“Sorry,piccola, when my emotions are deep, I revert to my Italian. I express myself best in my mother tongue.”
“I noticed. You often call me things in Italian. I don’t know what they mean either. What did you say this time?”
Wanting her to believe him, with everything in him, he softly stated, “Simply translated I said: I love you, my heart. You are my life.”
Serena blinked.
“You– I ... You ...”
His Serena, who always seemed to know what to say, for once seemed incapable of stringing a sentence together.
“Serena?”
“Hmm?” It was the best she could manage.
Laughing softly at the somewhat confused look on her face, Sebastian rubbed a gentle thumb across that bottom lip he loved so much.
“Cat got your tongue,angelo?”
With a deep sigh, Serena admitted, “It’s the last thing I expected to hear you say, to be honest.”
“I know. I can’t say it enough, Serena. I really am sorry for all the hurt that I’ve caused you, but will you at least give me an opportunity to show you that I really do mean it? Let me be there for you and the baby, a part of your lives?”
For a long, uncomfortable moment, Serena just looked deeply into his eyes, not saying a word. Just as it became too much to bear, she finally seemed to come to some conclusion and spoke again.
“Do you truly mean it, Sebastian? Or is it something you think I want to hear?”
“Yes,mio amore, I truly mean it. In the time I was away from you, I had a lot of time to think things through, and I realised that I had fallen in love with you. I was just too cowardly to admit it to myself.”
Lifting a shaky hand to touch his beloved face, Serena placed gentle lips on his for a short, sweet kiss.
“Oh Sebastian, I honestly thought I was the only one who fell. You broke my heart with your silence. Say it again. Please?”
“I love you. I love you. I love you.”
Seeing the soft expression on Serena’s face did something to his heart. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. His heart full, he wondered why he’d fought this feeling for so long.
28
Serena
Hope rushed through Serena,making her giddy. Laughing with sheer joy, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight.
“I never thought I’d ever hear those words from you or get the chance to tell you this, but I love you too, Sebastian.”
