"Thank you," I told Emerson as I pulled away from his embrace.
My eyes locked with his, searching, needing him to see. I needed him to understand just how much this moment meant to me. He held my gaze, steady and unflinching, letting his vulnerability shine through. His transparency made my heart swell, and then he shook his head.
"You don’t have to thank me," he said softly. "From now on, I’m going to dedicate my life to making you happy."
I couldn’t help myself—I hugged him again, tighter this time. But even then, it wasn’t enough. There was something more I needed, something deeper, something that couldn’t be expressed in words or gestures. So, I kissed him.
I kissed him hard. I kissed him like my life depended on it, like this connection between us was the only thing that mattered
