The words have been on the edge of her lips since he first opened his eyes in the medbay after Scarif. He smiles at her blearily and it's almost the first thing out of her mouth.
I love you.
It feels crazy, and he's heavily medicated, so she decides against it. Instead she holds his hand and returns his smile and tells herself that's enough for now.
There are several instances – more than she'd like to admit – where panic almost forces the words out of her mouth. Either she's bleeding out on the floor of the ship or a blaster bolt lands just shy of Cassian's head and she realizes how temporary they are. She nearly says it because the thought of one of them dying without him knowing terrifies her.
She can't say much of anything when he's coming undone beneath her. It's the look of him, the feel of him, the trust he's giving her that leaves her utterly speechless. She tries, but pleasure blurs the words into a moan.
Oddly enough, she says it when there's seemingly no reason to. They're in bed, his head tucked against her shoulder, her hands running lazily through his hair. He's almost asleep. She has no idea why she says it.
"I love you."
The room reaches a new level of quiet as he looks at her. She doesn't shy away, just keeps stroking his hair. When he kisses her, she wonders what took her this kriffing long.
