Page 86 of Texting the CEO's Obsession
The way he looks at me makes me believe that he means it. Still, I don’t want platitudes right now. I want him to be honest with me. I want to take care of him.
“Nick,” I warn, giving him a stern look.
He sighs fondly, shaking his head even as a sad smile tugs at his lips.
“It’s been hard,” he admits softly. “It’s easier with you.”
My heart trips over itself in my chest, and I untangle my free hand from around his waist to cup his cheek, scratching through the overgrown stubble there.
“I guess I’ll just have to stick around then,” I say with a wry twist of my lips, gazing up at him adoringly. “To make it easier on you, ya’know?”
A bright laugh slips from Nick’s lips as he tugs me forward to kiss me until we’re both breathless. It’s as gentle as either of us can manage right now, careful of my bruises but too desperate for each other to let them stop us.
“You’re sure?” he breathes out against my lips, staring deep into my eyes. “This is your only chance to back out, Princess. I’m not letting you go after this.”
I don’t even have to think about it.
Every part of me—body, mind, soul—knows this is right.
“I’m sure,” I whisper back, smiling brightly up at him. “I can’t imagine a life without the man I love.”
It leaves me breathless to say, and it seems to knock the wind out of Nick too. He freezes for a moment before crushing me against his chest, a wicked grin creasing his face.
“Say it right,” he demands.
I laugh, smiling so wide my face hurts.
“I love you,” I tell him, my chest swelling with warmth and need at the way his eyes shine. “I love you, and you damn well better love me back.”
I know he does.
It was the last thing I heard before I passed out in his arms.
Even if he hadn’t said it, it’s written clear as day across his face right now.
“I like this confidence, Miss Morgan,” he teases, a laugh on his breath as he untangles our fingers so he can run his hand through my hair. “I love you,” he confirms, sure and steady. “I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone or anything, Riley, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
My breath catches in my lungs, my mind going blank as the weight of his words hits me in full.
“You better not be proposing to me without a ring,” I say breathlessly. “Or in ahospital.”
His laugh is loud and carefree, and I find myself collapsing into a fit of giggles in his arms, so overwhelmed by joy that I can hardly catch my breath.
“Yes, ma’am,” he jokes, leaning down to kiss me through his chuckles. “Let’s go pick a ring out so I can do it properly then.”
It’s only by sheer luck that I don’t burst into tears right there.
“God, I fucking love you.”
“And I love you, Princess.”
EPILOGUE
NICK
Coming back to my penthouse after Sunday dinner is going to be something I have to get used to again. I have a feeling it’ll be easier now that Sunday dinners are a happy affair again. And now that I have Riley at my side.
Maybe it’s a bit early to say they’ll all be good nights from now on, but I’m hopeful. This was the first family dinner we’ve had since Bruno died. The table felt too empty without him there. Even though I never really got along with my brother, he was still a part of my family, and the gap he left isn’t one that will ever be filled. Ma’s coping as well as she can, but her eyes are constantly red and teary. I’ve never seen her so…frail.
