Page 95 of Recklessly You
“Sophie, I’m so fucking madly in love with you. I missed you so damn much. There’s so much I need to tell you. First, the night of the gala, it scared the shit out of me. If something happened to you, I couldn’t live without you. So, when I spilled my past to you that night, I thought I was saving you by pushing you away, after all these years of seeing my mom lonely, sad, and working her ass off to provide for me. I didn’t want that for you. I wanted to save you from me. It took losing you for me to see things in a different light.You saved me.You saved me from the hole I was drowning in, baby, and you brought me back to life.” A tear skates down his cheek. He looks so raw, vulnerable, and beautiful.
“When I was dying, all I could think of was coming back to you, to fight death because I needed to see you and tell you I love you.”
I throw myself on his chest and wail. I didn’t know he almost died as a result of his injuries, and I never asked Mila because I cut her short. I was too upset.
“Shh, it’s okay, it’s okay.” He rubs my back in soothing circles.
I pull back and wipe my tears. “If something had happened to you, I don’t know if I could have gone on living. Please tell me you love me and that this isn’t just a dream.”
He wipes away the tears before kissing me softly on the nose. “It’s real, Sophie. What I feel for you is real. I apologize. I should have called you sooner, but I’ve been trying to figure things out in my head. I decided to talk to my mom. We had a conversation. That same night, I was going to call you, but then the shooting happened. Sophie, my feelings are different now, peaceful. I’m more sure than ever that I love you. I needed to make peace with myself so I could be the man you need, the man you deserve.”
Liam Rodriguez is the man of my dreams. His words are beautiful, real, and sweet as honey. He looks at me with a concerned expression because I haven’t responded to him yet—I’m unable to form the words. Cat caught my tongue.
“Do you still love me?” he asks.
I’m about to answer, but he drops to the floor on his knees.
“What are you doing?” I say instead.
“My mamá said I had to grovel.”
Holy guacamole, he’s so cute.
“If you don’t love me anymore, I’ll do anything to make you fall in love with me all over again. I want your past, present, and future. I want it all with you, and someday I want you to be my wife and the mother of my kids. You’re the woman I want. Will you be my girl again? I can’t live without you.”
For a second, I thought it was a proposal.
Oh, this man, how can I be angry at him when he’s hurting? The man standing—well, kneeling—before me seems lighter. I can see it in his eyes. The darkness has faded, and the light shines from him. There are no more shackles tying him down. I kneel so we are on the same level.
“Liam, I love you, and I want to be your girl.”
His shoulders sag with relief. His eyes hold mine as we stare at each other for what seems like forever.
“Say it again,” he drawls in his husky voice.
“I love you, Liam.”
His lips find mine, and our hungry mouths crash as our tongues caress and explore. His kisses are searing, with an intensity that can barely be contained. Our tongues dance an urgent waltz as we attempt to quench our mutual thirst. My heart races faster as my hands move to his back, feeling each ripple of muscle beneath his shirt. I can’t help the soft moan escaping my throat as he deepens the kiss, and we become lost in a world of passionate need.
“I love you, mi bella. Te amo.”
God, his voice is like syrup, sweet and thick.
“I was waiting for you to come back to me,” I admit. “Don’t leave me again.”
“Never, Sophie. Forgive me.” With a sorrowful expression, he gazes at me with hooded eyes.
“I forgive you, Liam, but please don’t ever do this to me again. Don’t ever make me feel like I’m less, like I’m not worthy. Show me you love me, Liam. Make love to me.”
He sweeps me up in his arms and carries me into the house.
* * *
I wrapmy arms around his neck, scattering kisses along his stubbled jaw and down to his neck. Once we’re in the doorway, I hear the click-clack of paws running toward us. Duke barks and jumps for my attention. I ruffle his soft ears, scratching him just the way he likes.
“He was so pissed at me. He missed you. We both did. We want you back home.” He catches me by surprise, that he wants me back here, but now it’s all sinking in. He loves me…I’m his girlfriend. But…no.
He’s moving.
