Page 170 of Secrets and Lies
He slowly lifts his head, and his eyes are round and terrified.
“What did you just say?” I ask.
He shakes his head.
“Tell me.”
“I love you,” he whispers.
“Louder.”
“I love you,” he says in his normal voice.
I let his words wash over me, and a feeling of rightness hits me deep in the chest.
“I love you too,” I tell him.
His eyes widen. “Are you sure?”
This time I don’t laugh. I gently tip his chin up so I can look him in the eyes. “I loved you before I even understood what love was.”
He pulls in a quick breath but doesn’t interrupt.
“I didn’t think romantic love existed,” I tell him truthfully. “I thought love was just friendship with good sex, but it’s so much more than that. It’s the most real thing I’ve ever felt, and you’ve been mine since that first night I snuck into your room.”
He swallows, his throat working enticingly. “I’m yours?”
I nod. “But there’s something you need to know about me.”
“What?”
“Once someone is mine, they’re mine until I decide they aren’t. And that means that all of you belongs only to me. No one else gets to share any part of you, and I will do everything in my power to destroy anyone who dares to get between us. Understood?”
He nods.
“That also means I won’t hesitate to destroy you if you fuck with me,” I warn him. “I’ve never felt like this for anyone before, and I’ll never be able to forgive—or forget—if you betray me. So you’re either all in, or you walk away right now.”
He leans in and brushes a soft kiss against my lips. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Say it again.”
“I love you,” he whispers, giving me another soft kiss.
The door to my room flies open as we’re pulling apart, and the twins walk in.
“Knock knock, fuckers,” Hazen announces as Connor closes the door behind them.
“Wassup, lovebirds?” Connor adds as they lumber over to us.
“Are you coming toJawswatch with us?” Hazen asks and squeezes himself into the space between West and the arm of the couch.
“We’ve even got a floaty for two you can use.” Connor flops down on my other side and leans over me to talk to West. “What do you say?”
“Um, yeah. Sure.” West smiles shyly at Connor.
“Yes.” Connor does a little fist pump.
“Awesomesauce.” Hazen wiggles in his seat, and West shifts closer to me so Hazen can fit in the small space better.
