I was dreaming about it for so long that I almost can't believe that everything is happening for real.
This man...he's so unpredictable. The moment I decided that he's rude and arrogant, he surprises me by being gentle and vulnerable. And now, when I’ve lost all hope that we'll ever meet again, he’s come here and is squeezing me in his arms.
"I've sold the hotel," he whispers between kisses, gasping for air.
"You did?" My eyes go wide as I try to catch my breath.
He pulls away from me a little before answering to look into my eyes and make me understand that he's serious.
"I don't need it anymore, Savi." He swallows. He's breathing heavily, but it's not because of the kiss. I can tell it's hard for him to speak. "I’ve felt pain inside of me for my whole life. The hurt was so intense that I thought nothing could erase it."
Daniel cups my cheeks in his palms and gently brushes his thumbs across my face.
"I needed the club for rough, no strings attached sex," he continues after a pause. "I thought I didn't deserve a loving, sincere, gentle relationship because of who I am: a broken, lonely, abandoned person. For my whole life, I felt like I was living someone else's life. As if I’d tricked fate somehow and stole someone else's destiny. I thought people like me didn't deserve happiness."
My eyes are getting wet with his every word. I simply can't believe that a talented, smart, and kind man like Daniel could denigrate himself like this for his whole life. He always seemed so confident to me.
"Until you," he whispers, and the moment he says it, I see his eyes shine, holding back tears. "When I met you, Savi, I didn't want to stay cold anymore. I simply couldn't. Because I felt something for you, something I've never felt before."
He takes a deep breath, and I hold mine.
My heart is beating so fast that it seems like it's going to jump out of my chest.
"I love you, Savi," he whispers again, and I feel a tear running down my left cheek. "I think I fell in love with you from the very first second I saw you, but I was too arrogant to admit it."
He wipes away my tear and leans closer for a kiss.
When our lips brush, I grab his shoulders harder to stay still.
I've dreamt about seeing Daniel again. I thought that maybe we'd somehow meet again after many years, and he would realize that I was old enough to give it a try.
I couldn't even dream that he might realize that this fast.
I couldn't even imagine that he might feel exactly what I feel for him: a real, mature, pure love.
"I..." I start.
"Don't say anything, please," he pleads, placing a thumb on my lips to make me stop talking, "I don't want you to think that you're obliged to tell me the same only because of what I feel for you."
He's wrong, so wrong. I don't feel obligated. I realized that I loved him long before he did.
"I moved to Boston and rented an apartment here," he continues, still holding his thumb on my lips. "I thought that maybe you would give me another chance. Of course, I was thinking about you moving in with me, but I don't want to rush it. I only needed another..."
"Stop talking, Daniel," I interrupt him with a grin, moving my lips away from his thumb. "I don't want to give you another chance."
As I say those words, his face changes. His eyes go wide with fear, and the hope in his face disappears in a moment. I immediately regret saying that.
"Because I never took the first one from you," I finish with a smile.
When he finally realizes what I am saying, he laughs in response and pulls me closer for a hug.
"I can't believe I'm finally holding you in my arms," he whispers into my ear, squeezing me so tightly that I almost can't breathe. "I've dreamt about it for too long."
"I know." I nod, ultimately sharing his feeling. "And I love you, too, Daniel."
He pulls away from me to look into my eyes again. His big brown eyes become even more significant, and I smile again, seeing how his pupils dilate with each second.
"I love you, Mr. Vanderbilt, and there's nothing you can say or do to change that."