Page 306 of Ruin Me Gently

“Did you mean it?” His voice dropped low, but no less desperate. “When you said you love me… did you mean it?”

“Yes,” I said, the word breaking out of me before I could stop it. “Yes, I meant it.”

His hand shifted, his fingers moving to my face, his thumb skimming slow beneath my eye like he was memorising every inch of me.

“I love you, Silas,” I said, the words spilling out, raw and certain. “I love you so fucking much.”

He exhaled hard, like I’d knocked the breath out of him. “You sure? Because if you’re just saying it—”

“I’m not,” I cut him off. “I’m not just saying it. I love you, and it’s terrifying, because you’re the only person I’ve ever let get this close. The only person I’ve everwantedto be this close—” my voice splintered, and I couldn’t finish.

“I’m here,” Silas murmured, his forehead pressing against mine. “I’m right here.”

“I’m scared,” I whispered.

“Me too. You’re in every thought I have,” he said, kissing my cheek. “You are in every single breath I take.”

My hands shook. I couldn’t stop it. Everything inside me felt too big and loud, like my ribs were splitting open trying to hold it all in.

“You’re in me, Lilith,” he whispered. “Tangled into every single cell, every molecule, every pulse of my body. I don’t know how to love you in any way but this.” His voice cracked, and I felt his chest jerk beneath my hands. “I don’t know how to do it soft, or careful, or in pieces. I only know how to give you every fucking part of me.”

I couldn’t breathe. His words were swallowing me whole. But I didn’t want him to stop.

He kissed my forehead, warm and slow.

“Every second,” he whispered, kissing the tip of my nose. “Every moment of my life since I met you—since before I met you, even—has led me right here. Right to you.”

Self-preservation wasn’t even a concept at this point. Big, ugly sobs were choking me and my chest kept stuttering, air hitching sharp and ragged in my throat like my lungs had forgotten how to work.

He kissed me again, slower this time, like he was giving me time to catch up, to feel everything he was pouring into me.

“I’ve never wanted anything in this life the way I want you. I don’t deserve you. I don’t. But I will spend every second, every breath, trying to be the man you do deserve.” His forehead pressed to mine again. “You are mine, Lilith. And I am yours. Every second. For the rest of my goddamn life—if you’ll have me.”

“Yes,” I choked out, dragging in a breath. “Yes, Mr. Stalker, ‘creep in the shadows, bringer of breakfast’… I’ll have you.”

His mouth parted, and I could see it—the relief, the disbelief, the absolute wreckage of everything we’d just dragged ourselves through.

“I love you,” I said, my voice breaking wide open. “I love you so damn much.”

His lips met mine again and I kissed him back just as fiercely, clutching at him, dragging him closer like I couldn’t get enough of him, like I didn’t know how to stop.

“I love you,” he muttered against my lips, like he couldn’t say it enough. “I love you.”

“Io ti amerò per sempre,” I winced, hoping I hadn’t butchered the pronunciation.

His breath hitched and he pulled back just enough to look at me, a quiet smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.

“Per sempre?” he echoed.

Then he kissed me again, slow and deep, like he was trying to carve the words into my skin, like he was making sure I felt every damn ounce of them.

“For fucking ever.”

CHAPTER SEVENTY

“Mr. Thorn, you standbefore this court today, convicted of a violent and unprovoked assault that was not only witnessed by bystanders, but captured on video for the world to see. The footage of your actions—ruthless, unforgiving, and inexcusable—spread across the public consciousness, leaving no doubt as to the level of cruelty you inflicted upon your victim. No doubt as to your guilt.

In that alleyway, you did not just strike another human being. You attempted to break her. You left her bruised, bloodied, and defenceless, while the world watched in horror. And when the consequences of your actions loomed, you did what all cowards do. You ran. You evaded law enforcement, you trespassed, you hid from responsibility, and forced your victim to live under the weight of knowing that her abuser was still out there, unpunished.

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