Chapter 146
- “How can you love me knowing all that I am?” I mumble with so much conviction in my voice that I sound hoarse. He lets me go and for a second, fear grips my body, fear that he’s walking away, that he’s disgusted at me. As he moves back, putting distance between us, the panic overwhelms me, my eyes widening, but he shakes his head as though in answer, sliding his arms under me and pulling me to his lap. He wraps me in a proper embrace, torso to torso, stretching my legs around him, so we’re as close as humanly possible. With his hand cupping my jaw, the other around my back pulls me in so our faces touch. I slide my arms around his neck and relax into his embrace, although my eyes are still wide with apprehension, and my heart beats erratically.
- “I want to find every one of those men, every single one, and kill them with my bare hands. I would serve life in jail for what I would do to them for hurting you, for touching you,” he growls, holding my face to his so we’re only a breath apart. “How can I not love you, Emma? Everything you’ve told me makes me love you more, and I want to protect you more fiercely. You're an amazing woman - with your strength and your undying will to carry on despite it all! And after all of that, after everything those men showed you about themselves, you still found it inside of you to trust me, Bambina …to fall in love with me, to let me touch you. You’ve no idea how immense that is; I’m in awe of you. You didn’t just survive, Emma. You built a life for yourself that completely transformed who you were so that no one would have ever guessed.” His mouth comes to mine, pressing softly. “You’ve no idea just how amazing you are. I think I’ve just fallen in love with you all over again, il Mio Amore.”
- His words cause so much bittersweet pain in my heart. Elation combined with a crushing, overwhelming ache. Not because his words have hurt me but because they are exactly what I’ve needed to hear after so long. They’re a healing balm, a tiny start at making me feel whole again.