Maria's whole body was still tingling from the time she shared in the bathtub with Arthur, paired with the breathtaking way he just kissed her. Not only that, but her brain still felt slightly foggy from the large amount of pleasure signals that had bombarded it.
Those were the reasons why she did not immediately register what he had said to her. She thought she heard him, but she had to be sure. "What?" she quietly asked.
Arthur chuckled and tucked a wet curl behind her ear before he brought his hand up to her cheek, all the while his eyes never left hers. He circled his thumb over her cheek in a comforting way that left her skin hot under his touch.
"I love you too, Maria," he repeated in a voice filled with adoration.
The pull she had towards him yanked at his words, and she felt her heart swell with joy.
