And I Love Her

Bonus Chapter - Her "I Love You"

A Year And 6 Months After New York

Katalina's POV

"Really?" I basically laugh as I turn the steering wheel left.

"Yes!" James began to laugh along with me.

I just picked him up from training and I was driving us home for the night. It's been four months since I arrived in Madrid and I finally got a rhythm down.

When I get out of the car, and before I turn its alarm on, James grabs his things out the back seat and then makes his way to me. He puts an arm around my shoulder and brings me into him and his damp shirt, so I begin to mock him but he just leaves a trail of kisses down the right side of my face.

"Happy anniversary," James says.

"Aww, look who's counting," I poke him as we get on the elevator.

"What did you do at the office today?" He asks as the doors shut.

"I had a photo shoot actually," I start. "You know how I've missed those."

The doors slide open once again and James backs up off of me and gestures for me to walk into the hall first. I pull out my set of keys and open the door.

James let's out a grunt as we enter and he makes his way to the bathroom. I take my stuff to our bedroom and do him the favor of taking his bag too, which he left in the hall.

Five minutes later, James comes out of the bathroom and I finish changing.

"What do you want for dinner?" I inquire.

"Dinner?" He asks. "Let's just skip it and go straight to dessert."

"What?" I let out a chuckle.

James puts up a finger to stop me and takes my hand in his and drags me to the dark kitchen.

The only thing that gives off light is the fridge when he opens it and pulls out a cupcake.

I'm left standing against the counter and I begin to laugh a little.

"Happy birthday to you," James begins to sing.

I can't help the grin on my face as he places the badly made cupcake in my hand.

"I tried," he lets out.

"I can see that," I joke. "Thank you," I say before leaving a kiss on his lips.

He opens the drawer and places a candle in the center of the cupcake, then lights a match and the candle.

"Make a wish," he smiles.

I blow out the candle and the only thing that comes to mind is him keeping that smile forever.

Before I know it, James picks me up quickly and takes me to the even darker living room and manages to throw me on the couch.

"I almost dropped the cupcake," I exclaimed. "I can't see anything."

I feel James get up and the curtains are open and moonlight shines in through the windows.

"Thanks love," I say.

"What'd you wish for?" he asks coming closer.

"Now if I told you that..." I begin to smile.

James gives me a smile back and pulls me closer to him, my legs on his lap and his arms now around me.

"Take a bite already," he said as I begin to take the candle out.

I do so and I let out a moan as all sweets hit the spot for me.

"Good?" he asks.

"Good," I nod.

I inch the cupcake to his face to let him try and as he opens his mouth to take a bite I bring the frosting up to the tip of his nose and he gives me a semi-shocked look as I begin to laugh.

"I know you too well," he spoke.

"Clearly not," I begin. "You thought I was going to give you a bite?" I mock him as I take another one.

James begins to pinch me at my sides and I give in.

"Alright!" I let out. "Take a bite."

After he tries the cupcake he made I take the last bite and put the wrapper and candle on the coffee table. I laugh at the chocolate frosting still on James' nose.

"Do I have something on my face?" He jokes.

"No," I smile.

I put my hands under his jaw and pull him a bit closer.

"You're just beautiful," I say.

"I love you," James says.

The first official 'love you' since we started dating. My heart begins to flutter even more and an even wider smile appears on my face. I've always wondered what this moment was going to feel like, imagined mostly; I've never thought it'd even be possible, but here I am sitting in front of James, ready to mutter the same three words back to him and I can honestly say that I've never been happier in my whole entire life.

"I love you," I say back.

I pull him closer and I kiss him on his nose with the frosting instead and I get a laugh from him. We lock eyes when I pull away and I kiss him on the lips this time.

"You got frosting on my cheeks, I hope you know that," I say when he pulls away.

"Did I really? Sorry," he mocks.

"Oh," I kiss him again. "I'm sure you are."

"Let's get to bed," he smiles.

"Sweep me off my feet," I chuckle.

James does so and I begin to laugh a bit more. He quickly throws away the wrapper and candle, wipes our faces, and then we make our way to our bedroom.

"I'm gonna buy you the nice big house you deserve soon enough," he says as he lays me on the bed and throws the covers over me.

"No need," I say as I turn to face him as he gets in right after.

Although it's only been several months, I know I'll be with James for quite sometime and not one ounce of fear rushes through me and I find myself staring at him.

"I love you," I say first this time.

"Are you having fun saying that?" He laughs.

I kick him under the covers and he pulls me in closer to him.

"I love you," he repeats as he embraces me in his arms and leaves a kiss on my forehead.

James gives me that radiant smile of his once again and I give him one back.