“You don’t have to. You’ve always been bigger on actions than words. I don’t need you to say it. What I need is for you to realize that my love isn’t going to change or lessen because someone makes a comment or you have a bad day. I love you unconditionally, Camden. At your worst? I love you. At your best? Yep, still love you. And until you can accept that, I’ll be right here proving it to you. Choosing you.”

Emotion clogged my throat, and I couldn’t swallow past it, no matter how many times I tried.

“I’m not going anywhere,” she promised. “I’m yours. Now. Always.”

Her words didn’t chip at my defenses or break them down. They seeped inside the walls I’d had since…forever and transformed concrete and mortar into color and light. Into the very thing she was.

“And if that’s not enough,” she started and then shook her head. “If you decide to walk away, I’ll still love you, just like I did the first time, even if you don’t want me any—”

I didn’t know when I started moving, but I silenced her with my mouth, pouring everything I couldn’t say into the kiss. A cry of relief escaped her lips, and I took that, too, slanting over her to kiss her deeper, hold her closer. I needed her as close as the laws of physics would allow, and even then I’d find a way to break a few.

“Cam,” she sighed.

“Shh. My turn now. I’ll never walk away,” I promised, holding her face in my hands. “I’ll never not want you. Wanting you is all I’ve ever known. You’re in my blood, my bones, my soul.” My hands dropped to her ass, and I lifted her until she was eye level. “There is no me without you. I’ve known that since we were kids in this room.”

Her lips parted at the same time as she wrapped her legs around my waist, locking her ankles. “We’re not kids anymore.” She skimmed her fingers down my face.

“Thank God for that.” I was done holding back. Done trying to convince her she’d be better off with someone else. For better or worse, she was mine.

Now I just had to make sure she never regretted her choice.

I kissed her, and she arched into me, sending the kiss spiraling into pure heat and need as her fingers laced behind my neck.

It was a good thing I knew this house like the back of my hand, because I didn’t break our kiss as I walked us out of the library, down the hallway, and into my room. I paused inside the door to flip on the lights. There was zero chance I was missing any part of this in the darkness.