Vegas Ruby🥀 | Taennie ff |

Chapter 19

"The heart has its reasons, of which reason knows nothing." 

– Blaise Pascal

❦.♱ʚ♡ɞ♱❦.

Ruby

I love you.

Taehyung grew tense beneath me, and I stiffened in turn. I closed my eyes. I couldn't believe I uttered those words. I hadn't considered saying them because I knew Taehyung couldn't say them back. Love. For him it was something unfathomable, illogical, impossible. He simulated affection for me. Every act of tenderness, every smile and soft expression was a conscious effort.

I swallowed. The words had slipped out without my intention because I'd been so relieved and happy and grateful. I had never told someone I loved them, not even my mother, and no one had ever said it to me.

Taehyung had been nothing but patient and gentle with me, and it wasn't something I'd expected. Not in my wildest dreams, not from a man like him, and not from a Falcone. I felt safe with him. But saying the words I'd barely dared to admit to myself had been a mistake. I knew it deep down.

Gathering my courage, I pulled back and sat up. Taehyung was still inside of me, but he was starting to go soft. I was afraid of looking into his face and seeing him stare blankly at me. It was impossible for him to understand why I had said these three words.

When I raised my eyes, Taehyung looked like he was trying to comprehend what had just happened. His brows drew together, his gray eyes piercing me to the very core as if he was trying to see into my heart and soul, laying me bare when I had already bared myself to him by admitting to my foolishness.

Embarrassment washed over me, and a deep longing that seemed to tear at the seams of my heart filled my chest. I began to pull away, but Taehyung wouldn't let me. His arms tightened around me. "No," he said firmly.

"Don't run."

Had it been that obvious on my face that I wanted to run away, even if there was no way for me to run from my emotions?

He cupped my cheek and kissed me, his expression softening. "You are overwhelmed and relieved because we had sex. It's okay. Don't be embarrassed."

Deep down, I knew this act of kindness as well was a conscious effort. He made his facial muscles go soft because he knew I wanted it, because he knew I needed it.

"I meant what I said," I whispered because I was done running.

Taehyung was right. All my life I'd run from memories, from my family, from men. I was done running, and even if Taehyung couldn't understand my feelings, that didn't change the fact that I had them.

Taehyung regarded me, his eyes almost ... expressive for once. "Ruby," he began in a low voice.

"I know," I said quickly, my throat tightening. "I know you can't return the emotion. I know you don't feel anything for me, and it's okay.

You are trying to be a good man, even though it's not in your nature. You are treating me right, you are simulating affection for me, and that's all right. It's more than I expected when we married and it's enough."

His gaze became searching, and again, I got the feeling that he was trying to peer straight into my heart. Maybe he succeeded because he asked quietly, "Are you sure?"