it was she who had said the words first, in the beginning. the proclamation tumbling out of her mouth in a heated moment. he was the one who always said it first after that. not saying it back was like a punch to the chest, like losing a limb ⅋ losing your heart. not just for him, but for her too. her entire future was blank without him. he was in every vision, every milestone. losing him would quite literally mean losing herself. ——— there’s no complaints leaving her mouth as he pulls her into his lap, relishing in the contact between their bodies. he was so close, every inch of him pressed against her, their breaths intermingling. it still wasn’t enough. her arms were now looped behind his neck, eyes half closed as the words she had asked for finally reached her. before she could reply, his lips found hers, before continuing their path along her skin. with every declaration, her body relaxed, the ache in her chest lessened. she was still hurt ⅋ still angry, but those were afterthoughts now. it was just them. just the puzzle pieces of their hearts fitting together. —— she wants to do this right, so when he finally slows down his assault, she moves to take his face in her hands. their eyes lock. a shuddering breath is taken before she speaks. ❝ i love you. more than anything in the world. ❞ there is no apology. she had never been good at them. what she can do is show him, so that’s what she does. she lunges forward, pressing her lips to his fervently. he tastes like copper ⅋ it only results in her kissing him harder.
three words and he felt like the weight of the entire world was lifted of his shoulders. he knew that. he knew that she loved him, knew that she would always love him . . . but there was that little voice in the back of his head always reminding him that he would never be good enough for her. she was a princess, he a . . . hat maker? a barista? a drug dealer. that’s what he was, and what set his job apart from his father. that was the root of all their problems, his choice in career . . . or moreso, his business partner. he didn’t choose aklla, wouldn’t choose her in a million years. she just kind of . . . fell down the rabbit hole into his lap, presenting an offer he couldn’t refuse. if he didn’t work with the isle’s main supplier, then he was working against her and there were no rules on the isle. his business would suffer. working with aklla was a means to an end. he just hoped that end wouldn’t be his relationship with ruby. he moaned into the kiss, rocking her body against his, trying to pull her closer, closer, closer. his arm around her waist dipped under her shirt, and he pulled back when he realized how familiar the fabric was. it wasn’t hers, it was his. even bunched around her waist, she was still swimming in the shirt. he smiled, but it didn’t reach his tired eyes. “nice shirt,” he said, hand moving up her back, under the shirt to feel the warmth of her skin as he went in for another kiss. he used that arm to hold her close as he lifted her up and laid her down on the bed, never breaking the kiss. “say it again,” he mumbled against her lips, lowering his body on top of hers.