“You could keep burning buildings down and poisoning people,” she says, clicking her tongue.
The corner of my lip quirks up. “The poisoning was Dylan. The fire was Killian. Not me.”
“Ah. You helped, though. I’m sure you’re the one that came up with it, you fuckingnerd.”
The teasing never gets old.
“Olive did,” I admit.
We sit in silence for a while longer, watching the continuing coverage.
“I really like Olive,” Hannah says finally. “She’s a badass.”
“I do, too,” I say.
“No. Youloveher.”
I nod without hesitation. “I do.”
I love her so fucking much it hurts. And even though we’re mated, I feel like she still needs to hear it.
When she wakes in the morning, I’ll tell her exactly that.
After my conversation with Hannah, I have no problem falling asleep.
* * *
I feelOlive before I see her, her essence a light spot in my soul.
Well rested, I walk up to her master bedroom door and almost collide with her as she opens it.
She’s stunning, as always, in her leggings and tank tops we packed for her before we executed our plan.
“Hey,” she says softly.
I wrap her in my arms and hold her close, breathing in her scent, letting her sweetness soothe me. “Hi,” I rumble.
“You saved us,” she whispers. “You saved me and Hannah.”
I frown. “You wouldn’t have been there in the first place if it hadn’t had been for me,” I say carefully.
She reaches up to stroke my cheek, her nails scratching gently against my beard, sending a shiver through me. “But you got us out,” she says gently. “And you made a hell of a difference. Others wouldn’t have escaped if you, Dylan and Killian hadn’t shown up. This is a moment that will go down in the history books.”
But the guilt doesn’t dissipate as I hold her face in my hands, meeting her enchanting blue eyes. “Olive—”
But she stands on tiptoe to kiss me, and our bond flares to life.
I feel her passion, her energy, herhopeas it pulses through my veins.
I can’t wait any longer. I pull away from her gently and she looks at me, confused.
“I should have said this sooner, probably before I…bit you,” I start, and she frowns. “But I…”
Just say it, dumbass.
But her confused expression turns to a small smile. “You’re blushing,” she says, and my cheeks flame.
Just say it!