Lightning flashes again.
The danger is here anyway.
“You didn’t drag me.I had a choice, Ledger.And I chose you.”I whisper.“Someone came for me because of you.Doesn’t that mean I was always part of your world?Even before this?”
He stares at me, breath shallow, as if he never considered that angle.Then, softly: “Maybe.”
I shift closer and lay my hand lightly on his knee.
The effect is immediate.
His muscles tense.
His breath stops.
His eyes lift to mine with a hunger that steals air from my lungs.
“Kelly,” he whispers, warning in his tone.
“I’m not confused,” I state, softer.“Not about this.”
“You don’t remember,” he says.
“But I feel,” I whisper.“I feel things I don’t understand.And every memory that’s come back so far?Every one of them has you in it.”
He squeezes his eyes shut like the weight of my words is too much.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he murmurs.“I did that once.I’m not doin’ it again.”
“You’re not hurting me.”
“I might,” he counters.
“Then show me,” I beg.“Show me what we were.Don’t tell me, show me.”
His eyes snap open.
“Kelly.”
My heart thunders.
“Show me,” I repeat, breath trembling.“Help me remember you.”
For a terrifying moment, I think he’s going to stand, walk away, shove down everything between us again.
But instead, he reaches up, hesitates for half a second— And then cups my cheek with both hands.
Gentle.
Intentional.
My breath catches.
Ledger leans in just enough that I feel the whisper of his breath against my lips.Not touching.Not kissing.Just close enough that my world narrows to the heat of him.
“Kelly,” he whispers, voice breaking, “if I touch you the way I want to I won’t stop.”
“Maybe I don’t want you to stop.”
