Chapter 28
I had had enough of the playing around, of the avoidance of the public declaration I had made.
"Please, Ellis." I reached for his hand.
Every inch of my skin prickled with electrical energy when I touched him again.
The next thing I knew, his mouth was on mine.
I felt like a man who had been dying of thirst only to finally be granted a drink of water.
I kissed him back with a hunger I had never felt before in my life.
I had missed him, and now that I had him back, I never wanted this feeling to stop, and I would do anything to keep him this time.
He took a step back, breathless. "What made you change your mind?"
"You did."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Losing you, thinking I might never see you again, never mind get to kiss you or hold you again."
Ellis blushed. The pink flush on his cheeks suited him. "Is that it?" He smirked.
"No. It might also have had something to do with the fact that, even though I am the most cynical bastard I know, and it can be as simple as looking down and seeing your hand entwined with mine and feeling like it’s fucking home.
Because you are my last thought every night before I sleep and my first thought every morning when I wake up.
Because even if this doesn’t last, and I pray to God it does, I will be forever changed for just having you in my life, no matter how long that is.
Because you make me want to be a better man, more confident, surer of my place in the world, the best most fulfilled version of me that I can be.
And if that’s not enough to have you back in my life, that doesn’t change the fact that I am now, and always will be yours.
Even if forty years from now I am happily married to someone else, I’m still yours right down in my very soul. ”
A tear slid down my cheek. Ellis’ thumb swept across my skin as he cupped my face, his lips crushed against mine, and the softest, most tender kiss I’d ever had in my life was offered to me.
“I love you,” I whispered against his lips when he paused and rested his forehead against mine.
“You hurt me.”
I winced. It wasn’t enough. I had been an utter wanker and lost the only thing that would ever truly make me happy for the rest of my life.
“You have to promise me you’ll never do that again.”
Was he forgiving me? “I promise.” I was shocked, and he soothed me by pressing his lips against mine again, only this time with more passion. His hands ran down my back and pulled me hard against him.
“I love you too,” he told me.
“Say that again?”
“I said, I love you too!” He laughed.
“That’s the most perfect thing I’ve heard my whole life.” I grinned. "I know I've let you down immensely. You deserve better, so much better, and I want to spend the rest of my life making it up to you, if you'll let me."
Ellis grinned. "I'll check my diary."
He leaned in and kissed me again, and I knew I could never let his man out of my life ever again. I would spend forever making sure he knew just how amazing I thought he was.