Page 147 of Fumbled Into Love

CHAPTER 33

“All I want is to be loved by you”

Loved By You – Chelsea Cutler

Deon

Itwirl the bracelet in my grip, my nerves racing wildly as I wait for Nathalie to respond.

To say anything.

Does she hate what I’ve done?

Was it too much?

Were we all wrong and she wants nothing to do with me?

I spiral rapidly when she whips her wrist out.

“Put it on,” she demands, and I waste no time in tying the bracelet around her delicate wrist. It sits with the other two, each with their own meaning and my heart thumps in my chest. Nathalie cradles my facebetween her palms.

“I always thought I wanted a wild, reckless type of love. One with grand confessions and boom boxes in the rain. But I was wrong.” A tear tracks down her cheek. “I want the love that I found with you. Nothing about it was wild or hot like a wildfire, but it was a slow, steady growth until you consumed my every thought.”

She pulls her lip between her teeth.

The tremor in my hands that I banished returns with a vengeance and I grab onto Nathalie’s hand. She squeezes gently.

“I would rather spend one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone.” She quotes Arwen fromThe Lord of the Ringsand the few simple words send my world out of orbit. “I love you, Deon. More than I thought it was possible to love someone.”

Hot tears spill onto my cheeks.

Never did I believe I would hear these words again, but most of all, I didn’t think I was worthy of them.

Not until I met her.

The woman who watches dating shows religiously and devours romance novels. Who lovesthe Lord of the Ringsand has an unhealthy obsession with Orlando Bloom. The woman who bought into my variety of weird and sips tea and works on puzzles at night and always makes sure my favorite snacks are in the fridge.

She made me believe that the person I am is worthy of love without having to dim myself.

“I love your dimples and that cocky smile you get when you’re right about something.” Her chest racks with laughter. “I love that your cat hates you, yet you still feed the asshole expensive food. I love that you’re ridiculously tidy and devour seasoned pretzels and mint chocolate chip ice cream. I love thatyou let me warm my toes with your calves and that you’re more invested in our dating show than I am. Every day, I’ve found another reason to love you.”

Her hand grazes my jaw and I turn to kiss her palm.

“I want to spend every day of the rest of my life loving you, if you’ll let me,” I murmur against her skin.

She lifts a brow, barely containing her smile. It strikes my solar plexus, leaving a soft warmth behind in my chest.

“Ask me,” she demands.

“Forever?”

Forever and one day more,” she confirms, tackling me as her laughter fills the air. My limbs flail as she wraps her arms around my neck, peppering kisses to my face.

The moment is surreal and the adrenaline pumping through my veins is all that keeps my mind centered. It’s not sinking in, not really.

I’m hearing the words and feeling her lips against my skin but my brain isn’t quite processing that she’s saying yes. Choosing me. Choosingus.

Reality strikes when her hand snakes around my back and pinches my ass,hard. “I get to do that for the rest of my life!” she yells, brimming with excitement.

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