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The words get caught in my throat, and I choke on the intensity of them. Even though I understand, it doesn’t stop my heart from breaking at the realisation.

Miles places both hands on my cheeks and tilts my head back, forcing me to look at him. His expression hasn’t changed at all. “I never said I couldn’t forgive you. It’ll just take some time. Knowing you didn’t really want to leave helps.”

My stomach flutters as something very similar to hope blooms inside me, and I can’t stop myself from smiling at Miles. “I thought about coming back every single day for seven years. I didn’t think about much else. When I heard about what you do now, who Marcus really is, it was the excuse I’d been waiting for.

“I knew coming back wouldn’t be easy, but I wished more than anything that I could earn your forgiveness. I didn’t come back just because I needed your help, I wanted to see you too.”

Miles’ lips tip up into a smirk, lighting up his eyes. “I think I’m glad you came back,” he admits.

My cheeks flush and I bite my lip to try and hide my happy grin. “Really?” I’m not even bothered that I sound desperately hopeful. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for.

He nods. “Really.”

I know I should leave it there, taking the win for what it is, but the words slip out before I’ve even had a chance to process them. “What about this thing with Jake? Are you really okay with it? He told me what happened between you when you were younger. I know he really hurt you.”

I mean, I know we’re going for open and honest communication, but I could have tackled this part another day. Haven’t I brought up enough traumatising life events for one night?

Nevermind, it’s too late now,I think to myself.

Miles grimaces, shifting uncomfortably, but to my relief, he doesn’t shy away from answering honestly. “He did, and I’m stillnot sure he’s ready for whatever is happening here. I know he’s been working through his own thoughts and feelings in therapy, which is great, but what happens when his parents find out? Or Marcus and Chloe? I’m not sure he’s ready for the fallout. But watching the two of you together was hot as hell, and I can tell you like each other.”

I reach up and grab one of his hands off my face, lacing our fingers together, while he continues stroking his other thumb over my cheek. His touch is soft and comforting, but I want him to see our hands joined.

“Jake knows I won’t choose. If he wants this, he has to face all of that, and he knows that. It’s hard for him, but I think he’ll do it. You have to know, I don’t just want Jake, and he doesn’t just want me. We both want you too.”

Even though he overheard us saying something similar earlier, I think it’s important that he hears it from me, so he can see how fucking serious I am.

He squeezes my hand as his lips curve into a blinding smile that makes me feel like I’m floating. “I’m not going to lie, it might take some time to build back the trust I had with the two of you. You both broke my heart in different ways, and that’s a lot to get over, but I’m willing to try, if you and Jake are. I want to be with you both, too.”

His words don’t just give me hope, they’re more than I could ever have dreamt of. I’ve been dreaming about getting Miles back since I left, and now I get to keep Jake, too.How the fuck did I get so lucky?I don’t deserve even one of these men, so to have them both is mind-boggling.

Without thinking, I let the happiness that’s radiating through my body guide me as I reach up and press my lips against Miles’. It’s just supposed to be a short, quick kiss, but as soon as I feel him melt against me, I lose all self-control.

I deepen the kiss, pressing my lips against his with as much force as I can. I open when he asks, letting him devour me with his tongue, while I savour the taste I could never forget.

Kissing Miles again feels like I’m finally home, and I can’t get enough.

When my brain finally catches up, and I realise I’m rushing things, I reluctantly pull back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to go that far. I lost my head for a minute,” I admit, still feeling a little drunk from his kiss.

Miles grins, his eyes sparkling, almost like he’s proud of the way he affects me. He grabs hold of a rogue piece of hair that had fallen into my eyes while we were kissing, and he gently tucks it behind my ear.

“Don’t ever be sorry for kissing me,” he says. “But we better get some more sleep, or we’ll both be exhausted tomorrow. Will you be okay on your own?”

I hesitate, wanting to tell him I’ll be fine, but after all the progress we’ve made tonight, he deserves the truth. “You can go back to bed. I probably won’t get back to sleep again.”

Miles’ eyes narrow at me, assessing me the way he always does when he’s looking for whatever I’m not saying. “Would it help if I stayed?” he asks nervously.

I pause for a moment, wondering how to word what I’m thinking without coming across as too needy. “I’d sleep, I think, as I always feel safe with you, but you don’t have to stay. I know that would be moving too quickly, and I don’t want to rush this and risk it not working out.”

Miles rolls his eyes. “Don’t talk bollocks. I watched you suck another guy’s dick earlier tonight. I think we threw the rule book out around the time Jake licked your pussy. Let’s get under the covers and get some sleep.”

He doesn’t even wait for me to respond before he lifts me up like I weigh nothing. He shuffles under the covers and pulls meagainst his side, tucking me underneath his arm. I lay my head on his chest and slide my arm around his waist, pulling him closer.

“Thank you,” I whisper, smiling as I snuggle into his warmth.

“Thank me when I’ve got rid of Gregg the Wanker, and The Cunt, as Jake so eloquently has labelled them. We have a meeting scheduled with Marcus and Jake’s boss, Bree Doughty. I promise you, this will all be over soon and you can finally stop running.”

As I snuggle into his chest, feeling secure with his arm wrapped tightly around me, an overwhelming sense of peace that I’ve not felt for a very long time surrounds me.