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“Yea…” I brace myself, unable to tell where he’s going with this.
If he’s about to tell me he isn’t looking for anything serious, I’m not sure I’ll survive it. I am completely head over heels in love with this man, and everything between us at the moment feels too good to be true.
“It’s not because I haven’t had the opportunity. I’ve dated here and there, even tried online dating once, but no one…” His eyes lock on mine. “…captivatedme. Not the way you do.”
My heart fucking stops as I feel my jaw drop.
I captivate him?
I have to remind myself to breathe, my mind trying to think of something to say, but failing to come up with anything.
After a moment, he continues. “Yesterday… when you told me another man had been at your flat after I left… I felt jealous. It’s stupid, I know, considering what happened. But I wished you would have called me.”
There’s a pained look on his face and I want to hug him and tell him I love him and that I will forever be his and only his if he wants me. But I don’t speak. I can’t.
I dig my fingernails into my palm to make sure this entire day hasn’t just been a really elaborate dream.
“I really like you, Lila,” he says and breathes out a big sigh, as though a weight has been lifted off his chest.
“I meant what I said,” he continues. “I’m all yours. If you’ll have me.”
Everythinginside me fucking liquefies into molten lava.
“I really like you too, Marcus.”
He grins, charming and dangerous, and so fucking beautiful, it physically hurts. “Yea?”
“Yea,” I nod.
He takes my hand and pulls me in to him, his lips brushing mine, soft and sensual.
“I’m all yours, Marcus. Only yours.”
His arms wrap around me, and I can’t stop smiling. My face aches, and my eyes sting. I hadn’t even noticed I was crying until he wipes a tear away.
“You okay?” he asks gently.
I nod, laughing through it. “Just happy.”
My heart feels happier than I ever knew possible, but my brain just can’t believe it. How many girls had dreamed of this man saying these things to them? How many girls would kill to be in my shoes? How many girls had he rejected over the years, how many hearts had he broken, telling them he wasn’t interested? And here he is, opening up tome, tellingmehe’sall mine,when he hadn’t committed in that way to anyone in over ten years!
“The water’s freezing,” he murmurs.
“Doesn’t feel like it.”
Still, we climb out, picking up the two white towels we had left on the floor after our earlier shower – slightly damp, but good enough – and wrap them around ourselves.
I perch on the edge of the bed as Marcus stands in front of me, drying off as my eyes continue to skim his body, landing again on his necklace.
“What do you want to do now?” he asks.
I grin. “What doyouwant to do?”
He glances out the window, and I turn my head to follow his gaze. The sun is starting to dim, but it’s still fairly bright outside, suggesting it’s sometime late afternoon.
“I want to get into that bed with you and not get out again the rest of the week.”
I smile as my heart soars. “That sounds like heaven.”