My smart girl 3. Rewriting our stars

I was still trying to come back to myself, feeling Jay’s quiet breaths against my neck as I slowly ran my palms over his broad back. My body continued to tremble from the intense pleasure I had experienced in his arms. I still couldn’t fully believe that it had finally happened, but… tonight had truly become the most beautiful night of my life, no matter how dramatic that sounded. It felt as if time itself had slowed down, giving me a little more time to bask in this sweet euphoria that had flooded every cell of my body. Whoever was watching over us from above, I was grateful to them for it. After some time, Jay gently kissed my neck and pulled back slightly, cupping my face in his hands. Almost immediately, his brows furrowed with concern as he whispered: “Why are you crying, baby?” I looked at him in confusion, only now noticing the warm tears on my cheeks. He tenderly wiped them away with his thumbs, kissed my forehead, and breathed out: “I’m sorry… Did I hurt you?” I shook my head, gently squeezing his hands that were still cradling my face, and whispered softly: “No, my love… Not at all. It’s just… I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy before.” The worried lines on his handsome face smoothed out. He smiled and whispered: “Sweetheart… Remember? I promised I would make you happy…” He followed the quiet words with a tender kiss to my temple. “That you would never regret becoming mine…” A kiss to the corner of my lips. “And I… always keep my promises.” He finished with a kiss right on my lips, making me smile and pull him even closer. I felt like I would never be able to let him go again — that I would never get enough of him. And I knew I had to tell him that… “I know, Jay, and I… I…” But under his intense and unbearably tender gaze, my voice faltered and faded away. I bit my lip, letting out a shaky breath, and closed my eyes. The next moment, I felt the feather-light touch of his warm lips on my temple and heard his hoarse whisper: “I know, baby. I love you too…” I sighed and hugged him even tighter, mentally scolding myself for being such a coward again — for still not being able to say the words out loud. Jay had always been the one to tell me he loved me without hesitation or shame. He was the first to confess, and he continued saying it every single day. Meanwhile, I… Apparently, I really was just a frightened little deer. Even after he had made me his in every possible sense of the word, I still didn’t have the courage to say those three words aloud. I could only hope I would still have time to fix that.