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“For taking such good care of me. For being so amazing through all of this. I’m not sure I deserve your kindness, but it means more to me than you will ever know.”

“You deserve a lot more than just my kindness. You deserve my love. My respect. My devotion. And I plan to give you all of that and so much more. I’m going to love you so completely that you’ll never again doubt whether or not you deserve it. Because you do. And I will spend every single day reminding you of this fact.”

“Is that all?” I release my hold on him, letting my hands slide down his chest before resting my forehead there, against his wet skin.

“You want more?” Humor laces his words.

“No.” I shake my head, lifting my face to meet his. “I just want you.”

“I’m yours.” He takes my face in his hands, leaning in to lay a soft kiss to my mouth.

I melt into his touch.

It’s not sexual.

There’s no expectation or goal.

He kisses me just to kiss me.

And I love every single second of it.

“I love you,” I murmur against his lips, my arms closing around his neck.

God, how freeing it is to finally just say it out loud. To not have to hold in how I’m feeling. To just admit the truth without restraint or apology.

I love him... It really is that simple. And yet, my feelings for him are anything but simple. They are complex, sometimes confusing, and often overwhelming, but that makes it all the more exciting.

He snakes an arm around my waist, pulling me flush against him.

“I... Um...” I immediately try to pull away, self-conscious about the fact that I’m bleeding.

“Don’t.” He reads my thoughts perfectly, tightening his grip on me to prevent me from slipping away. “I don’t mind and neither should you. I love every part of you, Charlotte. Every freckle.” He kisses my nose. “Every pore.” His lips brush my cheek. “Every hair. Every drop of blood. From the top of your head to the tips of your toes, there isn’t a single thing about you that isn’t utter perfection.”

I relax against him, his words like a soothing balm to my fractured soul.

“Careful, Mr. Parker. I might start thinking you actually mean what you’re saying.”

“Good. Because I mean every word.” He captures my face in his hands a second time, forcing me to meet his gaze. “I need to know that you’re hearing me.”

“I hear you.”

“And that you believe me.”

“I believe you.”

“Good.” He kisses me. “Now, what do you say we put on those ridiculous robes”—he gestures to the fluffy bathrobes hanging on the back of the closet door—“order pizza, and not leave the bed for the remainder of the day? And maybe tomorrow too.”

“Under one condition.” I pull back with a smile.

“Name it, Red.”

“You make sure to remember the pineapple on the pizza.”

“Fucking pineapple,” he murmurs, tugging my mouth back to his.

“You love it, and you know it.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.” He laughs, the sound full and rich. “But I’ll tell you what I do love... You.”