He had been enjoying the whole night. Having her all over him, putting off his business so he could keep his fairytale happy. All things he was willing to do, knowing full well how much she hated what he did. Hated the things he had to do. Oh she accepted it in him but she hadn't crossed that line with him yet, and he didn't know if she ever would. Seeing that possible future had bothered her more than she'd let on even to him, but he could see it. He could read her in those moments when she didn't think he was paying attention. He was always paying attention, if she didn't know that yet then who knew what would come of it. He didn't expect what she said though, of all the things he could have said back it all went from his head. And she was there, teasing him, draped over him and he couldn't pull away. Couldn't run from that damn word.
It meant a lot to her to have said it. But hearing her say it, he didn't quite know what to make of it. Or more to the point what he could possibly say back. Did he love her? Could he love anyone. It was such a ridiculous concept in so many ways. But then again, there she was, ready to say it and sitting where she was he wasn't above saying it back but he supposed it really was the kind of thing one should mean. Now there was the big question. He could say it sure, but could he mean it.
He blinked. Just once and raised his hand to her face, cupping it around her cheek. "Say that again?" he asked her, eyes dark and focused on her as ever. "Tell me you love me, knowing who I am, what I do. Knowing that it won't stop. Knowing that they'll hate me and start to hate you. Because you're here with me. Do you understand?" He kissed her again, still keeping his eyes on her and spoke, slowly, the same danger in his voice that many feared but Emma had begun to understand. "Say that again?"
If she answered well then there was that. There was more to it than just words and then he could think about what to tell her back. Because right now he couldn't think. Couldn't focus and it wasn't a feeling he liked one bit. He didn't know his next move. Is that what love was, blind stumbles in the dark with no real right or wrong answer. It was nothing he could plan for.
The things this woman did to him. How had he let her get to his heart this much. Well, suppose it was proof he had one.