Belle felt her entire body tingle pleasantly at those words--even though she knew it to be true without them, hearing that he loved her made all the wasted years seem far less painful. And she knew he meant it, that for all his tricks and toying with language he wouldn't lie about that.
She laughed a little against his mouth, kissing him back. "Mm, I am most certainly open to any suggestions you might have." She sounded so wicked--she loved that he brought that out in her, even if her nerves were still fluttering.