“It wasn’t your life to decide what I would do or not. How did you know I wouldn’t fall for anyone else and accept you back into my life just like that?” My tone was hard.

“I didn’t need to know you wouldn’t fall for anyone else. Because my Rosebud loved me enough to keep me in her heart forever.”

That was ridiculous. But my eyes burned as waves of emotions slammed into my chest. I let out a shaky breath, not denying him.

“I also knew how stubborn my little Rosebud was. I knew you wouldn’t forgive me so easily. But I couldn’t give up. After all, I’d waited seven fucking years to have you back in my arms.” His thumb brushed my lower lip.

I shook my head. Some more shameless tears slipped from my eyes. “No matter what you say, I can’t forget what you did. You hurt me. You…” I bit my lip. “You didn’t let me stay with you. You pushed me away when you needed me the most. I… hate you! I hate you for that, Achilles Valencian! I hate you!” Pushing at his chest, I tried to get away from him again.

Even if it wasn’t my fault, even if I knew nothing about his condition, I felt guilty. For not being there for him when he needed me. It tormented my soul to even think of that.

He pulled me closer. With raw emotions flashing across those stormy grays, he whispered, “And I love you, Emerald Hutton. I love you so fucking much!”

My breathing stopped as I stared at him. And then slowly my heart started racing, a tingling sensation spread across my veins. My knees wobbled at his declaration. The intense emotions searing through my chest made me let out a shaky breath.

He’d said those words again. The words that haunted my dreams. The words that ran in my head twenty-four hours.

I love you…

I wanted to hear those words again. My ears yearned to hear them again. My lower lip trembled. I had no words. I was speechless.

“I loved you from the day those turquoise eyes met mine, my precious rose. I loved you every time you smiled at me with those big doe eyes. I loved you whenever that little nose crinkled every time you thought you’d lose in the chess matches.” He kissed my nose, followed by my eyelids. “I loved you when you were away from me. I loved even your annoying habit of eating garlic prawns using your hand. And I love you when I have you in my arms right now. The place where I want to keep you for the rest of my life.”

Leaning in, he captured my trembling lips into a scorching kiss. A whimper left me as I melted against him. My heart soared.