"Rakish, huh? I like." He grinned but it fell from his lips when she spoke those three words. It may have looked as if he were terrified, as if suddenly, it was all too much.
But it wasn't. The words felt as if they belonged to both of them. House had fallen in love with Kytana before Sunila had arrived on the island. But their daughter had sealed their love.
The words still struggled to leave his mouth. His head dropped, feeling ashamed and pathetic. It had been a year.
After a moment, House lifted his eyes and focused on Kytana, and everything she was to him, and suddenly he found strength. "I love you." There was a croak in his voice but the words were clear.