Page 79 of Dirty Rebound (Slayers Hockey 3)

I blink. Feel those tears I’d barely gotten control of threatening a return.

He means in the way friends hold each other’s hearts. Because we’re besties.

Right?

I meet his eyes.

I know him. I trust him.

“I love you,” I whisper, trusting that he knows me the same way.

The corner of his mouth hooks up and my belly does a little flutter. “Likelove, love?”

My hand presses harder and I let him see all the things I’ve been trying to hide for these past weeks. “Like I’ve been dying without you, my heart breaking a little more every time I saw you and knew I needed to let you go.”

“I wanted you to have more. I thought I couldn’t give you the kind of confidence and security you deserved in your forever. But Cammy, I swear, I’m never going to stop working to become the man you deserve.”

I shake my head. “Rux, do youlove, love me?”

“So fucking much.”

“Then you’ve already given me everything that matters, more than I ever dreamed of.”

He swallows, opens his mouth. Closes it and looks away. But then looks back and it’s there in his eyes. The future neither of us ever believed we could have, the one we were too scared to see, but had been waiting for us all along.

“I love you, Cammy. I love Matty. And I’m going to ask you to marry me, but not yet.”

I lean back and whisper, “What?”

“Yeah, don’t want you to think it’s just Rux being Rux, all rash and impulsive.”

I shake my head. “But what if I love Rux being Rux, and rash and impulsive are a couple of my favorite things about you. Like loyal, loving, dedicated…”

God, that smile!

“Cammy?”

“Rux.”

“I’m going to ask you, but not until after Matty knows we’retogether, together. Give him a chance to get used to seeing us as a couple before throwing a wedding at him.”

I love this man with my whole heart and soul.

“Good plan,” I say, shifting in his lap so my legs straddle his. “But if you’re not going to ask me to marry you right now… what are you going to do?”

He groans, pulling me against him with one hand at my hip and the other behind my neck. “I’m going to love you.” Our mouths meet in a kiss that’s so sweet and right, and hot and perfect, I shiver with the realization forever is already here.

An hour later, we’re still on the couch, now a tangle of bare limbs, damp skin, and endless kisses. Rux mutters a curse against my neck and lifts his head.

“Uh, Sunshine, I didn’t mention it earlier… but umm… we should probably check on Jeremy.”

My brow lifts. “Why?”

Rux cringes. “Okay this is going to sound bad, but I’m pretty sure my face accidentally broke his hand.”

* * *

Rux

---