“Confessing my love and sharing my past.”
She lowered her head, but he caught her pained expression just before she did. He let out a long breath. “I didn’t mean to leave. I just—”
“Don’t explain. Are we still to wed?”
“Of course,” he answered, moving closer. “You’ll have my protection. That I promise.”
She looked up at him then. “Bash. You don’t need to promise. I know I have your protection. I have since the first moment we met. I trust you with everything. My life, my safety, and my heart. I know you’ll keep all of them safe.”
“What?” He shifted, his throat tight as those words sank in.
“You are the kindest, strongest man I know. I can’t imagine what growing up with a father like yours would do to a person. I’ve been trying to picture it. My cousin, Avery, is Uncle Malcolm’s daughter. She lives with a tyrant and she shrinks into herself every day.” Isabella reached for his hands. “I’ll be as patient as you need me to be. I have no idea how long it takes to recover from such treatment. But I need you to know, I think you’re the best sort of man. You would never hurt me. You take care of the people around you. You build them up rather than—”
But he didn’t let her finish. Instead, he captured her lips with his own.
Because her words had eased some ache inside.
Like a shaft of light, penetrating the darkness, she pierced into his perceptions. He lifted his head to look down into her large brown eyes. “But I used to be so angry and…”
She shook her head. “You are not him, Bash. You never have been.”
“You didn’t know him.” He swallowed.
She slipped her arms about his waist. “I know you.”
Placing his forehead onto hers, he looked deep into her eyes. “Was this item two? Convince Bash he’s not a monster?”
“No, but item three is setting a date for our nuptials. Did you say tomorrow? And four is discussing how we’re going to catch my uncle, and five—”
He kissed her again. Not to make her stop but just because he couldn’t wait another moment. It was long and slow, and their mouths clung together. “I didn’t mean to interrupt,” he said as he pulled back just a bit. “But you’re ridiculously intelligent and beautiful and I can’t seem to resist you no matter how much I try.”
“Do you think I’m strong too?” she asked as she raised on her tiptoes and kissed him again.
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“Very,” he answered, returning the touch and taking another.
She nodded. “Then you can trust me to be strong enough to keep you in check.”
Now that was one of the best ideas he’d heard in a long time. Here in her arms, his fears were falling away one by one. “Mason claims he’ll be the first to kill me if I ever hurt you.” He slid his hand down her back, settling her body closer to his.
“An ally. Excellent,” she murmured against his lips. “You have a whole network of people who love you, Bash.”
He slid his hand down, cupping her perfect backside.
And he realized she was right. He was different from his father. Because the Demon Duke had allowed no one close to his heart and he’d loved no one in return.
But that wasn’t Bash.
He had friends, good ones. And a brother who was the best sort of man.
And he had Isabella.
The love of his life.
“Isabella,” he whispered before he kissed her again. “I love you, too. So much.”
The world around Isabella tilted making her unsteady on her feet. Or perhaps it had just been her head. Because Bash had just told her that he loved her.