Hating You, Loving You (Inked Hearts 4)

"But it's barely been a month."

"I know. But I am." He slides his arm around me. Presses his palm into my lower back to pull my body into his. "It's okay if you don't feel it yet. Or if you're not ready to say it. But you gotta know I'm not going anywhere. I'm here. Whether you're sick or well or something in between."

"But…"

"No buts, sunshine. This is where I want to be."

"But…" It's the only response I have. My urge to protect him overwhelms everything else. Even that greedy part of me that wants his comfort. His affection. His love.

He loves me.

When I stare up into his eyes, I believe it.

I know it everywhere.

"I…" I suck a breath through my teeth. His touch feels too good. It's drowning out my senses. "I don't know if I can do this to you."

"You're not doing it to me. I love you, whether you want me around or not. And, fuck, if you are sick, I'll never forgive myself for missing a second."

"But…"

His voice is strong. Sure. "I'll never forgive myself for letting you suffer alone. So, if you're doing this for me, trust me. This is what I want."

"Dean…"

"Let me finish this, sunshine." He pulls my body into his. "I've spent my entire life avoiding connections because I was afraid of getting hurt. I'm not doing it again. Not when I've found the person who completes me."

Every part of me goes warm at once. It's cheesy. It's wrong for him. It's perfect. "Did you really just say that?"

"Yeah. No. Let me correct that. Fuck yeah."

I can't help but smile. "It was super cheesy."

"I know. But it was true." He stares down at me with every ounce of love and affection in the world.

It's there, in his eyes.

There's no way I'll convince him to leave.

And there's no universe where I should.

If things were reversed, if he was the one who might be sick…

There's no way that would scare me off. There's no way I would let go of what I have.

Fuck. It is just like A Walk to Remember.

I am a cheesy Nicholas Sparks movie.

But, dear God, please let me strip the bittersweet from that ending.

I rise to my tiptoes and press my lips to his.

He kisses back, soft, slow, sure.

I pull back with a heavy sigh. "I have to go. For my needle biopsy."

He motions to his car. "I'm driving."