Page 195 of No One But Me

Because she was.

The thought hit me like a punch to the gut.

Fuck.

I loved her.

I loved this stubborn, infuriating, beautiful woman who had walked back into my life when she could have stayed gone. Who had chosen me when she had every reason to run. Who was looking at me right now like I was her entire world.

The realization should have terrified me.

It didn't.

It felt right.

I thrust deeper, harder, my rhythm faltering for just a second as the truth settled into my bones. My forehead dropped to hers, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Fuck, Belle," I groaned, my voice breaking. "Fuck, I?—"

Her fingers tightened in my hair, her body clenching around me. "Gideon?—"

"I love you," I forced out, the words raw and ugly and the most honest thing I'd ever said. "Fuck, I love you."

Her eyes widened. Her breath hitched. For a second, I saw the shock there—the disbelief. Then her lips curved, just slightly, and something in her expression softened, warmed.

"Gideon—" she whispered, her voice trembling.

I kissed her before she could say anything else, my hips snapping forward, driving into her with a desperation that bordered on pain. She gasped into my mouth, her body tightening around me, her nails digging into my skin.

I didn't care if it hurt.

I didn't care about anything but her.

Her.

Mine.

I reached between us, my fingers finding her clit, circling it in tight, demanding strokes. Her back arched, a broken cry spilling from her lips as her body clenched around me, her release crashing over her in waves.

I followed her over the edge with a groan, my cock pulsing inside her, my body shuddering with the force of it. I buried my face in her neck, my breath coming in ragged gasps, my heart pounding so hard I could feel it in every inch of my skin.

She wrapped her arms around me, her fingers tracing slow, soothing patterns down my back. I could feel her heartbeat against mine, her breath warm against my skin.

"I love you too," she murmured. "I love you too."

And for the first time in my life, I didn't feel like I had to let go.