With that, all my irritation went out of the window. My heartbeat was fast as a tingling sensation ran across my skin with his hard body pressing against mine. The intoxicating strokes of his hands on my curves sent my nerves haywire.

“Tell me, Rosebud. I’m impatient here. I’ve waited too long. I can’t anymore. Did you wear it for me?” Pulling away, he pressed his forehead against mine.

“Isn’t this dress an answer to your questions already? Do I need to say anything?” I whispered, gazing into his soul.

He shook his head, torment etched into those gray orbs. “I need to hear it from your mouth. Tell me. Did you… did you finally forgive me? Did you decide to give us a chance?”

A smile spread across my face, my eyes burning with the hefty waves of emotions slamming into my chest.

“Yes!” I gulped down my tears. Happiness bloomed in my heart. “I forgave you—”

And again, I was cut off by him. But this time with his lips. Which I appreciated a lot.

Breathless once he pulled away, I was greeted with a blinding smile on his face. Gray eyes shone with felicity and content as he cupped my face. “You truly forgave me, Rosebud?”

I nodded, lost in his smile. He was breathtaking. How did I get so lucky?

Letting out laugh, he pulled me closer and littered kisses all over my face and neck. “Thank you! Thank you so much, baby! You don’t know what you gave me today!”

Giggles left my lips with his non-stop kisses as I leaned more into him. It took me some time to forgive him completely, to understand his reasons for why he pushed me away. Though it still hurt, I couldn’t stay mad at the decision he took in the worst time of his life. The most important thing was, he was only looking out formy well-being. Even after forgiving him, I held myself back to give myself some time to process everything. But now my patience was over. I couldn’t stay away from him anymore.

From the man my heart beats for.

Placing a lingering kiss on my lips, he peered into my eyes. “So now I can call you mine?”

I raised my brow. “I thought you already declared that.”

A musical chuckle reverberated through his chest. “Well, I declared what’s the truth. You’re mine.” Brushing the pad of his thumb over my lower lip, he whispered, “Only mine.”

His lips caught my mouth again, his hungry tongue battling against my eager one.

“You don’t know how happy I’m today, Rosebud. You’ve freed me from my years of torment. Thank you so much, baby. I promise I’ll make it up to you for the rest of my life.”

“You better,” I said, breathless from his scorching kisses.