Page 70 of Surrender to the Ruthless Billionaire

His skin was prickling with shock.

It must be a dream. Or some kind of optical illusion. Maybe he was hallucinating…

He stared at her in silence as she picked her way across the rocks, his breath catching fire in his throat as she stopped in front him.

Since she’d walked out of his life he’d thought about her endlessly, replayed every glance, every word they’d shared, imagined whole conversations inside his head, and he knew that he should say something—that he needed to say something. Yet now she was here both his mouth and his brain seemed to have stopped working.

But as he looked down into her face it suddenly didn’t matter what he said, for he could see her tears mingling with the drops of seawater and he knew that no words were needed.

Her heart belonged to him just as his heart belonged to her.

And, reaching out, he tugged her to him, an ache of love and longing swelling inside his chest.

‘You came back,’ he said softly, fighting back his own tears. He felt her nod against him. ‘But how did you know I was here?’

Cristina swallowed. ‘I spoke to your father.’

‘My father?’

She almost laughed at the shock in his voice.

‘He was so sweet. And kind.’

‘He likes you.’

She felt Luis’s lips brush against her hair.

‘And I like him. But I like you more—so very much more.’

His heart gave a thump as she tilted her head back and he saw that fresh tears were sliding over her cheeks.

‘I love you, Luis. I have done for ages, only I was too scared to let myself feel it. And then, when you told me that you loved me, I was too scared to trust you. I just couldn’t believe I could have a place in your life.

‘So what changed?’ he asked shakily.

She smiled weakly. ‘I realised that you are my life.’

Her eyes were soft and unwavering.

‘I’ve missed you so much. Every day I woke up thinking of something to tell you, and you weren’t there. Every street I walked down I’d reach out for your hand, and you weren’t there. And every night when I fell asleep I wanted to feel you next to me, but you weren’t there.’

Luis could hardly breathe. She was baring her soul to him, proving not only that she loved him but that she trusted him too.

His arms tightened around her. ‘I felt the same way. Nothing matters without you, Cristina. You’re my life. My world. Mi corazón.’

And, taking her face between his hands, he kissed her fiercely.

Finally he raised his head, fixed his grey eyes on hers. ‘I love you.’

 

; Cristina felt her heart contract. He sounded so serious. So full of certainty…

She glanced up him, her lips trembling—and not only from the force of his kiss.

‘Enough to marry me?’ The words scrambled from her mouth before she could stop them.

He drew back, his eyes widening with shock and surprise, those beautiful grey eyes that she had missed so much searching her face.

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