When the last shaky sob had worked its way out of my chest and my breathing finally steadied against the solid warmth of his shirt, Kasteil eased back just far enough to cup my face in both hands. His thumbs swept gently under my eyes, wiping away the final damp tracks of tears. His red gaze was soft, searching, like he was trying to read every lingering insecurity still flickering behind my lashes.
"Also," he said quietly, voice low and careful, "I've been a really bad boyfriend, haven't I?"
The word landed like a stone in still water.
"Boyfriend?" I repeated, blinking up at him. My voice cracked on the second syllable, small and uncertain. "You… you are my boyfriend?"
Kasteil's brows shot up. For a heartbeat he just stared, then he let out a soft, incredulous huff of laughter and dragged a hand through his already-mussed hair.
"Oh my goodness," he muttered, half to himself. "You didn't think we were dating this whole time?"
