Page 121 of I Don't Need Your Romance

I can’t help but chuckle at how adorable this wonderful girl is. “This is the happiest day of my life, too. Thank you so much for bringing light into my life.”

She throws her arms around me again, pressing her nose to my chest. “Do you have any idea how good you smell?”

“What?”

She goes still in my arms, like she’s embarrassed for saying that out loud. “Um. You smell good. Like really, really good.”

Smiling and bending close to her ear, I whisper, “You smell really good, too. Like, really, really good.”

“Sorry. I talk before my brain can stop me.”

I rub her nose with mine. “You don’t have to be embarrassed to say that sort of thing. I love hearing what’s on your mind.”

“Well, if you really want to know what’s on my mind, you could make more of an effort to clean your room.”

“My room is clean.”

She nods at a T-shirt sleeve sticking out from my drawer.

“Seriously?” I say.

“I can’t have a messy boyfriend, can I? What will all the snooty rich people say?”

Laughing, I tug her close. “I really, really like you, Sophie.”

“I really, really, really, like you.”

“I really, really—”

“Oh, shut up and kiss me, Damian.”

Our lips connect and I show her how much I “really really really really” like her. I more than like her, but it’s way too soon to say that. She’s still recovering from Axel hurting her and I don’t want to overwhelm her or pressure her to say something she’s not ready to say. Besides, we have all the time in the world.

We roll around on the bed and she’s on top of me, our lips never breaking once. I feel so much from her kisses, how happy she is, how much light I bring into her life, how alive she is right now. I show her that her feelings match mine. Movies always say it’s like BAM when it’s right, but I never really believed them. This isn’t just BAM, it’s BAM in a volcanic eruption along with fireworks and an explosion all in one. But the best kind of explosion.

We roll again and she’s under me. I’m careful not to hurt her as I continue kissing her and showing her that I’ll never leaveher. I’ll do everything I can to be the best boyfriend in the world. I’ll be there for her, hug her when she’s feeling down and I’ll encourage her and support her in everything she does. I want her to conquer the world.

I know I’m only sixteen and it’s crazy for me to be thinking about this, but when it’s real and right, it’s real and right. Sophie is the only girl for me. She’s the only one who understands me and sees the real me. Most people don’t look past the leather jacket and motorcycle, but she has. Same way I see that she’s not some nerdy goody-goody top student. She’s so, so much more.

“What is going on in here?” a voice says.

I scramble off Sophie and we both sit up in my bed. Mom stands in the doorway, her face completely white and her eyes wider than Jupiter. She looks from me to Sophie with the most horrified expression on her face.

“I asked you a question,” she demands.

Sophie slides off the bed, her hands going to her hair. “We were studying—”

“Studying?” Mom nearly spits as she takes one step into the room. “That’s not what I call studying, young lady.”

Sophie looks at me with panic. I want to take her hand and tell her to ignore my mom. That I’m here and she’ll be okay.

“Damian! Haven’t I told you not to have girls in your room?”

“No. And Sophie’s not just a girl. She’s my girlfriend.”

Mom looks like she’s about to burst a blood vessel. “Girlfriend? Yourgirlfriend? Absolutely not. Sophie, leave this room at once and never,everspeak to my son again.”

“But—”