Page 94 of Beyond the Cage

“You don’t know how much I’ve wanted to say to you…to tell you how beautiful you are…all the sweet nothings you wanted to hear…”

He reaches out to touch my cheek and I step out of his reach. Taking a deep breath, he pulls his T-shirt up, exposing his Chinese symbol tattoo.

“You wanted to know what my tattoos mean. This one means ‘fight’.”

“So what? You’re a frickin’ MMA fighter.”

“No. Not in the literal sense. It means fight hard for a dream…for what you believe in…what you love.” He drops his shirt and takes my hands once more. “I believe inyou. I loveyou. I’m not losing you over this. I’m going to fight for you.”

As his words sink in, my heart begins a steady pitter-patter then escalates to a deafening pounding.He loves me. He really loves me!He wasn’tjust saying it to diffuse the situation. Or maybe I was too angry totrulyhear him before. Now I do – loud and clear.

“You love me?”

“For years, the cage was my life. I lived it, breathed it, loved it. It was all I knew, all I saw…until you. You made me see beyond the cage to another, better life. And I want that life…withyou.”

“You love me?” I’m stuck on that one piece of information, unable to let it go.

His lips curl up in a smirk as he realizes he’s finally gotten through to me.

“Of course. You’re pretty to look at, you cook, and you’re the bomb in bed. What more could a guy ask for?” he repeats my own words to me.

I swat playfully at his chest, and then launch myself into his arms. When he picks me up, I wrap my legs around his waist, and my arms around his neck.

“I’m the bomb in bed?” I smirk.

“The best I’ve ever had.”

“Oh, Cameron. I love you, too.”

“I know.”

It wasn’t cocky, just an affirmation.

“How?” I ask.

“You told me.”

“When did I do that?”

“Our first night at Babel,” he replies. “You were falling asleep, so I guess that’s why you don’t remember.”

“You knew all this time and you never said anything?”

“I wanted you to say it while you were fully conscious.”

“In the shower…is that what you wanted me to say?”

He nods, tightening his arms around me.

“Cameron…” I cradle his face and kiss his lips softly. “I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you.”

“You got me, babe. I’m down for the count.”

“When did you know?”

“The moment I saw those bruises and decided I had to protect you fromme. I’ve wanted to tell you for a while. I just didn’t want to say it in a text or note…you deserve more than that.”

My heart swells with emotion and I try desperately to blink back the tears.