Page 191 of The Scandal You Started
His hands went around her wrist and covered the fist over his heart. “I would never have married her. I could not even bring myself to meet her for months without feeling sick to my stomach.”
“But I didn’t know that! I didn’t know anything, not even when V gave me your ring. All I could do was hope it meant you were coming back.But you never came.”
“I was trying. Every day I was trying to find a way to reduce my Rupture so I could come back to you. You must have known that, Rayna.”
“But I couldn’t do anything to help,” she snapped. “All I could do was wait, and do you know how hard it’s been? Not knowingif or when you were coming back? Watching months go by and feeling myself lose hope? Crying myself to fucking sleep nearly every night because I missed you?” She pulled at him. “I don’t cry! I never cry. But that’s all I’ve done since you left!”
Liquid filled his golden gaze. “I never wanted to make you cry.”
She struggled for a gasp of air, forcing herself to stand tall. “Then don’t ever leave me again.”
Dominic’s face crumpled on a gritted sound.
“Promise me,” she demanded. “Promise you’ll never leave me again, or I swear I’ll—”
He scooped her into his arms and pressed his face into her neck. “Never,” he whispered. “Never. I vow to you I willneverleave you again, my love.”
Choking on a sob, Rayna looped her arms around his neck, squeezed her eyes shut, and nestled into him.
For long minutes, they stayed locked in the bittersweet embrace of long-lost lovers who had doubted whether they would see each other again. She buried a hand in his hair and filled her lungs with his warm, comforting musk. He did the same, touching her all over, breathing her in, and whispering words of love and apology as he stroked her hair.
When Rayna untangled herself from around him, she was sitting on one of the sofas, and Dominic was kneeling on the rug between her knees. He kept his arms around her waist as she cupped his jaw in her palms.
She mapped the beautiful planes of his face. He stared back. She traced the damp pinkness under one of his eyes with her thumb, and he nuzzled his cheek against her palm.
Her chest clenched.
“I love you,” she uttered, meaning the words with everything in her.
He stilled, his gaze immediately glazing over. “Truly?”
Gosh, did his small voice break her heart all over again.
She nodded rapidly. “Yes, I do. So much. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
“Do not apologise—”
“No, I have to. Because I should have told you then, but I didn’t. I let you leave without knowing, and I’m so, so sorry for that.” She angled his face right before hers. “I’m sorry for pushing you away too. And I’m sorry I told you that you didn’t belong here. You do.You belong with me.Always. No matter where we are.”
A slow smile spread across his lips, turning into a stunning, liquid grin that he pressed into each of her palms before bringing it closer to her own smile.
When he was a hair’s breadth away, he whispered, “I love you.”
He kissed her, not giving her the chance to say it back.
But she’d tell him again. Later. Every chance she got. Between all the talking they still had to do. Because there were lots of words yet to say, things to do and discuss and plan for, questions to ask and be answered, but all of that could wait.
Right then, all Rayna wanted to do was hold the man she loved.
Benedict:
So I left all my games and car keys inside can I come and get them quickly?
Hello?
Rayna??
HELLO
