Her nose brushed against his for a moment and she paused, gently running her fingers through his hair. “I love you too,” she replied quietly, her brown eyes almost a golden amber in the sun. “We have something really good, right?”
"We do," he murmured, his eyes intense in the light as he watched her. His voice, however, was gentle in contrast; soft and caring. "We really, really do." After a moment though, his gaze dropped a little and he hugged her, burying his face in her neck. "I don't deserve you."
She blinked in surprise, cupping the back of his neck gently as she planted soft kisses on his temple, her free hand running through his hair. “What? What makes you say that?”
He turned his head slightly and rested his forehead against her neck, his arms still wrapped around her gently as he sighed, a frown set on his face. "You are, though."
She frowned too, rubbing the back of his head gently and planting soft kisses against his skin. “No, I’m not,” she replied. “You are cleverer than I am, and you’re generous and sweet and thoughtful... you’re wonderful, Z. Far better than I am...”
"I could never be better than you," he said seriously, pulling away to look her in the eyes. "I'm serious, Juniper. You're the best person I know."
She flushed a little, her brow furrowed as she considered him. There was a pause before she laughed a little, leaning in and kissing his jaw gently. “That’s not saying much,” she replied quietly. “You don’t know many people right now. What brought this on, Z? You’re wonderful...”
"I just think you're good," he said softly, his hand tucking her hair behind her ear. "You mean so much to me."
She considered him before leaning in, her lips soft against his skin. She kissed a long line along his neck. “You saved my life when I went out into the storm,” she told him quietly. “And you brought me back and took care of me and let me lean against your chest even though you didn’t like me and you hated having your chest touched. You saved me again on the mountain, with all your magic in your hand. You saved me then, even though all you had ever wanted was to get your magic back. You’ve come back home with me, even though you were frightened. All of this was done while you grew up with someone who only taught you hate and violence. You’ve risked everything, Z, for someone who you shouldn’t even consider.” She shook her head, cupping his jaw in her hands. “You are the best person I’ve ever known,” she told him firmly. “If you truly believe that I am good, then believe that I am capable of recognizing goodness manifested in others.”
He listened to her as she spoke, his gaze softly tracing her features he took her hands in his, his fingers brushing hers gently before he brought one of her hands to his mouth and kissed the back of it. He leaned forward and kiss her softly, letting it linger before pulling away again. "You truly amaze me, June."
She considered him before looking down, a frown on her face. She tucked her hair behind her ear, looking as if she were considering something. “I don’t really know why,” she said quietly, her brow furrowed as she bit her lip. “I’m just... you know. A girl on a farm. You’ve met far more remarkable people in your life.”
He leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers gently. "You're such a pure soul, June. The life you lead is so.. intimate and serene." He paused and laughed to himself. "You're everything I could ever dream of. I want to be a part of your life and be able to know you."
She blushed, watching him with wide eyes. Her fingers were thin, and she reached up to gently run them through his hair, watching him the whole time. “I...” She paused before laughing a little, shaking her head. “I feel like... Z, I love you so much. I feel like I don’t want to ever be without you.” She paused and blushed even more, shaking her head. “Not like, in a scary way, and I know that’s cliche and gross... But I just... I adore you, Z. Everything you do is perfect and beautiful and... I just am so in love with you.”
A grin slowly crossed his face when she spoke and he slipped his arms over his shoulder. He kissed her cheek with a small laugh. "I'm in love you too, Juni, and.. I don't really want to be without you either."
She laughed a little, burying her face in his neck. “But not in a scary or cliche way, right?” she teased, closing her eyes as she settled against him. “Because, like it or not, you’re going to have to eventually.”
He frowned, slipping his arms around her and pulling her to him. He leaned down and carefully kissed her neck, his lips feathery. "I don't want to."
She made a soft noise, exhaling as she tilted her head. Her fingers reached up and gently ran through his hair. “You’re going to have to,” she murmured, and he would feel her pulse quickening against his lips.
