Page 84 of Heir of Fire
“Yeah, I will.”
Allister nodded, walking towards the door. “Goodnight, Gianna. I love you.”
“I love you too,” she said, watching as he closed the door behind him.
Finally, it felt like all the weight she had been carrying the past couple of weeks had lifted off her shoulders. She felt lighter, freer. Hell, she felt like she could fly. She’d had a long day that was overly emotional and had seriously done a number on her, but still, she was restless.
With careful steps, she walked towards the door and opened it quietly. The hallway was empty and dark, meaning everyone else was in their rooms or already sleeping. She closed the door behind her and tiptoed down to Finn’s door, knocking once quietly. He didn’t respond. It was possible he didn’t want to see her, but she needed to make sure he was alright at the very least. She entered his room, submerging herself in the warm glow that came from the lamp on his nightstand table.
It felt like she was sneaking around once again, only they didn’t need to anymore. There was a certain thrill that came with the late-night meet ups that she didn’t want to admit to liking.
Finn lay on his bed, barely raising his head when he realized who it was. He dropped back down, letting a groan escape his lips. “It’s late. What are you doing here?”
Gianna walked with careful steps to the bed, sitting down beside him. Immediately the guilt returned in full force. Bruises covered his skin, his nose was slightly swollen, his lip was busted open, and on top of everything, she had been vile towards him earlier after the day they spent together.
“I came to make sure you were okay and to apologize.”
“For what?”
“For saying I would never be with someone like you. Truthfully, I think I said it because it makes me think that in another world, you would never be with someone like me. That if you had never been forced back home, if you had never been forced to live here, if we didn’t have our paths constantly crossing, you wouldn’t be with someone like me. I’m a coward, a bitch, someone who acts tough but isn’t.” Gianna shook her head, letting the words slip out of her mouth. “Part of me wonders if that’s why people have a hard time loving me. Because of who I am. Either way, seeing you like this, everything you went through today because of me—I’m so sorry, Finn. I told them all the truth. That I didn’t want to reveal our relationship, that I wanted to keep it a secret, that I want to be with you. If this was all for nothing, I understand that too, you know.”
Finn’s hands reached out to grab her cheeks, pulling her down so she was only a couple inches away from his face. “You talk a lot.”
“I know.”
“I accept your apology. It’s rare I get those,” he said, a small smirk on his face. “But there’s some things that I need to say.”
She nodded, keeping her eyes locked with his.
“First, don’t ever insult yourself in my presence again. You’re not a coward, or a bitch, or someone who pretends to be tough. You’re brave, courageous, and have a heart of gold. Second, don’t think about what could have happened; think about what did happen. Something brought you into my life. Whether thatwas fate, God, some other being, I don’t know, but you’re mine. Now, and forever. Third, everything I went through today wasn’t because of you or our relationship, it was your brother being a little bitch, trying to understand something that wasn’t for him. What we have, this thing between us, is only for us. No one else deserves any part of it. Only we deserve the truth, and do you want to know what that truth is, princess?”
“What is it?” she whispered.
He brought her closer, lowering his voice. “I’m so fucking in love with you. There isn’t a single thing I wouldn’t do for you. There isn’t a single place I wouldn’t go to for you. I would take every single fucking hit again for you if that is what it takes for this relationship to work, for us to not have to keep it a secret anymore.”
Gianna felt like her heart could leap out of her chest at any moment. It felt like time had stopped completely when the words,those words, escaped his perfectly plump lips. The words she had never heard from any man before, the words she had felt from him but wasn’t sure about.
The words she knew she felt as well.
“You love me?” she whispered. Her eyes were glossed over with emotion and her hands shook, but she needed to know for sure.
Finn’s lips lifted into a smile. A genuine one. The type that made him look younger and took the stress out of him.
“I love you, Gianna.”
She gasped and connected their lips, pinning him against the bed. His tongue found its way into her mouth without any issue, taking control of the kiss within seconds. Gianna didn’t care. She felt the very essence of her soul exploding with fireworks and bombs. She lavished in his kiss, tasting and taking what was hers.
Because Finn Kingsley was hers.
She pulled away out of breath, leaning her forehead against his.
“I love you too, Finn.”
His eyes widened for a fraction of a moment as he heard what she said. The admittance felt freeing, vulnerable. She wasn’t used to baring her soul for anyone in that way, but telling him exactly what she felt, it was perfect.
“Say it again,” he muttered, pressing a kiss to her lips.
“I love you.”
