His bags sat on the bed. She was taking him to the airport. His time with her was almost at an end.
Charlie said he didn’t have to stay. Before he could bring up that he wouldn’t mind completing his time here. Dev wanted to stay. But Charlie said she could do things on her own.
I’ll make do.
Three words that summed up the woman he loved. She didn’t ask for help on things she could handle. The one time she had… Dev closed his eyes, self-loathing running through him. The keypad was something Charlie needed. Did her reasoning matter? No. She hadn’t demanded he help, just asked. He wasn’t owed an explanation, unless she’d wanted to give it.
And her comment about the lab had been offhand…after he’d pushed for it. He’d let his own past, the failures of others, cloud his judgment of the woman he loved.
Dev turned, his body acting without much thought. He needed to see her. Tell her he loved her. Tell her she could ask him for anything. That he wanted her to ask for everything. If she sent him away…
His chest burned. If Charlie sent him away, he’d deal with that.
He opened the door and stopped.
Charlie stood on the other side. Her blue eyes looked past him to the bed, where his bags were.
“You ready?” She bit her lip so hard, he feared she was tasting blood.
“No, Charlie. I don’t want to go.” He wanted to be here. Right here. With her. “I am so sorry. You were right. I hate that. Hate that I judged a simple request, hate that I wondered why and then let my emotions override when you joked about the lab. I love you, Charlie. And I want to know everything. I want all of you, all your asks, all your demands, all the wonderful, beautiful things that make you the woman I can’t imagine life without.”
“Wow.” Charlie’s breath was warm on his shoulder before she looked up. Her full lips so close. “That is quite the statement, Dev.”
His fingers ran along her cheek, drinking in the person who made him feel seen for himself… Maybe the only person who did.
“I was embarrassed about Jared. What kind of rescue employs a poacher? But I should have trusted you with my fears and hurts, too. I let my past stand in the way. I love you, too.”
Charlie’s words were music notes to the universe. The exact thing his soul needed.
“So, you’re staying?” Her voice was soft, hope speaking through the quiet words.
“You’ll have to throw me out if you want me to leave, sweetheart. I am yours. For as long as you want to keep me.”
“Forever?”
“Forever sounds like an excellent starting point, Charlie.” With that, he captured her lips. Forever.
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