“I saw the interview.” His voice cracked and he cleared his throat. “It was good.”
He wanted to punch himself in the face. Was that what he’d come all this way to say? That he liked her interview? No! But his brainstem seemed to have disconnected from the rest of his body.
“I’m glad you liked it.” Stasia rose from the chair and wrapped her arms around her torso. She chewed on her bottom lip. “I did it for you. It was all for you.”
“I know.” He took a step closer, so that only inches separated them. “I heard what you said.”
“You did?” Her gaze flickered to his and then to the floor. “Everything?”
“Everything.” His hands finally began to work again and he reached out to lightly run his fingertips along her jawline. “Including the fact that you love me.”
She ducked her head and blushed violently. Curls sprang loose from her bun. “I didn’t mean for it to come out that way. It was unexpected.”
“Then, I’ll ask again, do you love me, Stasia Pavlosky?” His deep voice trembled with emotion. “Did you really mean it?”
Her big eyes searched his, trepidation and nerves crossing her face. “I do. I love you, Billy. I’m sorry it took me this long to realize it, but I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember.”
A sigh of relief parted his lips. He ran his thumb over the curve of her bottom lip, cradling her cheek in the palm of his hand. The feel of her soft skin beneath his sent waves of electricity down his arm. He placed his left hand on her hip and pulled her closer until not an inch separated them.
“I love you, too.” He rested his forehead against hers, feeling the warmth of her breath on his cheek. “And if you’ll still have me, I’d like to spend every day of the rest of our lives reminding you of that fact.”
She shivered beneath his touch and sweetly sighed. A knowing smile tugged at the left side of his mouth as he leaned in, brushing his lips lightly
against hers. With a growl, Stasia wrapped a hand around his neck, stood up on her tiptoes, and hungrily met his mouth in a passionate kiss.
Her soft curves pressed against his body and fire erupted in his gut, threatening to consume him. She tasted of cinnamon and chocolate and sweet red wine. He wanted to melt into her, give up all of himself, and never come up for air again. He could live on that kiss alone.
With a final moan, Stasia pulled away, her cheeks flushed. Billy mourned the end of the embrace, but didn’t protest. He kept his hand glued firmly on her hip, his eyes on her lips.
“Do you still mean what you said?” she asked breathlessly.
He cocked his head to the side. “What do you mean?”
“In your letter. You said that nothing had changed between us and that you’d always love me.”
“You read my letter?”
“Ashley kept it all these years and finally handed it over.” Stasia curled her lips in an embarrassed smile. “I’ve read the thing so many times in the past day that I think I already have it memorized.”
A teasing glint lit in his eyes. “Absolutely, your highness. I meant every word. Then and now.”
She batted him on the shoulder. “I hate it when you do that.”
“Do what, Princess?” On his lips was a grin, but something darker smoldered in his green eyes.
“You’re set on teasing me for the rest of my life, aren’t you?” She put on a fake pout.
He stared intently at her mouth, his chest rising and falling with uneven breaths. “That’s a promise.”
Claiming her mouth once again with his, he didn’t pull away until the sound of footsteps approached. They turned to see a group of six people approaching, all of various ages and supernatural origin. Maya led the way, her six-inch black pumps clicking on the floorboards. The vampiress stopped before them, popped a hip, and clicked her tongue.
“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” Her eyes shone with a fierceness that made Billy’s stomach clench. “Our werewolf princess and our hero locking lips? The audience is going to love that.”
He felt Stasia tense next to him. Covering her hand with his, he squeezed it and moved closer to her side.
“The board loved your segment,” Maya said, gesturing toward the remaining five people who smiled and nodded in agreement. “I’m afraid I underestimated you, Ms. Pavlosky. You’re a real asset to this team.”
Stasia lifted her chin and took a deep breath. “So, am I to understand I still have a job here at Lochness Broadcasting Studios?”