Page 109 of Filthy Rich Temptation
‘I did.’ I hold his gaze, a single tear escaping. ‘Don’t tell me I didn’t, Theo. Idid.’ I take a shaky breath. ‘Even saying your name in the same breath as Danny’s was wrong. You’re nothing like him. You never were. I was scared, and I lashed out. I said the one thing I knew would push you away. Because I was afraid. Not of you hurting me…’ I swallow ‘…but of loving you again.’
His eyes flash, his mouth parting to speak, but I throw up a hand to stop him.
‘Please. I need to get this out. All of it. What you and Taylor did… it gave me the excuse I needed to end it. To run. And I’m sorry. So, so sorry. You believed in me, even when I didn’t,’ I whisper. ‘Even when you kept Danny from me, it wasn’t because you doubted me. It was because you were scared for me. And I wasn’t honest with you.’
I take his hand, needing to hold onto him as I say, ‘I know you didn’t want to hear this seven years ago, and maybe you still don’t. But I can’t keep it in.’
I wet my lips, take one last steadying breath.
‘I’m in love with you, Theo. My heart belongs to you. It always has. Whether you want it or not, I?—’
He surges forward before I can finish, both hands diving into my hair as his mouth slams into mine. Hard. Desperate. Like he’s terrified I’ll disappear if he waits another second.
And I feel it too. The hunger, the ache, the need that’s lived beneath my skin for far too long. I whimper against him, taking his all, giving my all. No fear. Just this. My love for him.
When he finally pulls back, we’re gasping, breaths mingling, foreheads pressed together as his hands cradle my face.
‘That wasn’t quite the reaction I expected,’ I say, breathless.
He lets out a hoarse, broken laugh. ‘You just handed me my every dream in one breath.’
‘It was definitely more of a speech…’ I laugh softly, my voice trembling. ‘But your every dream?’
He leans back just enough to take me in, that reverent look in his eye – the one I’ve come to adore.
‘I love you, Sadie Stone. I loved you seven years, and I wouldn’t let myself have you. I’m not making that mistake again. I love you, and I want you. And I’m sorry if you can’t handle my protection, because I will guard you and Lottie with everything I have and everything I am. Nothing and no one gets to hurt you again.’
‘You want to be our knight in shining armour?’ I tease through the tears.
‘I’ll be whatever you and Lottie need me to be,’ he says without hesitation. Then he kisses my forehead, my cheek, my lips. ‘Seven years of loving you, of knowing you were out there and not mine, I don’t want to spend another without you. You and Lottie – you’re my world now.’
I shake my head, joy swelling in my chest. ‘I can’t believe this is really happening.’
‘You better bloody believe it,’ he murmurs, kissing me again. This one slower, more thorough – a claiming and a homecoming.
I melt into him, into the warmth of everything I thought I’d lost.
And for the first time in years – maybe ever – I let myself believe in happy endings.
The car slows. Mike’s voice crackles through the speaker. ‘We’re here. Want us to circle the block again?’
Theo breaks away to say, ‘What do you think?’
‘There’s a girl I know who’s been desperate to see you…’
He smiles. ‘She and me, both.’
I smile with him. ‘We’re good to get out, thanks, Mike.’
We step into the lift of Taylor’s building, hearts still thundering, bodies close but nerves high. When the doors open onto my sister’s penthouse, I can already hear Lottie’s laughter.
We follow it to find Taylor sprawled on the floor in top-to-toe Chanel, hair piled on top of her head in a way I’veneverseen it before, helping Lottie build what appears to be an elaborate cardboard city. There are juice cartons. There’s glitter. Tiaras and stray plushies. It’s chaos. But it’s happy chaos.
Taylor looks up, startled. ‘Oh! Hey— How did it—?’ She freezes mid-sentence, eyes landing on Theo. On our hands.
Lottie turns, her face lighting up. ‘Uncle Feo!’ she shrieks, abandoning the glittery mess and launching herself at him. ‘I knew Mummy would find you!’
Theo catches her midair, hugging her tight to his chest, his eyes closing like the moment is too much to hold in.
