“And accountability. Friday night can’t happen again, Maddox. Those words—calling us trauma bonding and that this was never real—I won’t accept that a second time. If you push me away like that again, I’m gone. Not because I don’t love you, but because I love myself too much to stay where I’m not chosen.”
“I understand.” Maddox’s voice was wrecked. “I do. And I—” She stopped and took a deep breath. “I love you. I have been for weeks, maybe even months, and I should’ve said it Friday night. Really, I should’ve said it a hundred times before that.”
The words landed in Jade’s chest, relief and pain and love all tangled together.
“I love you,” Maddox repeated, her voice stronger now. “I’m terrified of needing you this much, but I do. I need you and I love you and I’m so sorry I was too scared to tell you when it mattered most.”
Jade’s own tears fell, hot and fast. “I love you too. Even when you’re pushing me away, I love you.”
Maddox pulled her close, and Jade went willingly, wrapping her arms around Maddox’s waist and burying her face in her shoulder. They stood there in the middle of Maddox’s living room, holding each other like they were the only solid things in a world that kept shifting.
Zeus pushed his way between them, whining softly, and they both laughed through their tears.
“He’s mad we’re upset,” Maddox said, one hand still on Jade and the other reaching down to pet Zeus. “He doesn’t understand why his pack is broken.”
“We’re not broken,” Jade said. “We’re just…figuring it out.”
Maddox pulled back slightly, just enough to look at Jade’s face. Her eyes were red, her face blotchy, and her emotional walls completely down. She looked more vulnerable than Jade had ever seen her.
“Can you forgive me?” Maddox asked. “Eventually?”
“I can.” Jade wiped Maddox’s tears. “Not instantly. You hurt me, and that doesn’t just disappear overnight. But I’m willing to work through it and rebuild trust, as long as you meet me halfway.”
“I will. I promise I will.”
“Then we’ll try again.” Jade leaned up and pressed her forehead against Maddox’s. “Both of us fighting for it together this time.
Jade stayed close to Jade, finding comfort in her solid warmth, and feeling the lightness of possibility that maybe, just maybe this time it’d work.
“I love you,” Maddox said, softly as if testing the words on her tongue, and leaned down and kissed Jade.
Jade answered by pressing her body closer, her hands sliding up Maddox’s back and pulling her in. The kiss deepened, shifting from tentative to certain to hungry, as Jade’s tongue danced with Maddox’s. When they finally pulled apart, both breathing harder, Maddox rested her forehead against Jade’s again. “I’ve missed you. I know it’s only been three days, but I’ve missed you so much it aches.”
“I missed you too.” Jade’s fingers found the hem of Maddox’s shirt, slipping underneath to touch her soft, creamy skin. “I kept reaching for my phone to text you and having to stop myself.”
“I turned mine off.” Maddox’s voice was rough. “I couldn’t handle seeing your name and not being able to… I fucked up so badly.”
“You did.” Jade pulled back just enough to meet her eyes. “But we’re fixing it now, both of us, together.”
Maddox nodded, then kissed her again, slower this time and with the kind of focus that made everything else in Jade’s mind fade away. Her hands moved to Jade’s waist, pulling her close. Zeus whined again, more insistent this time, and they broke apart, both laughing breathlessly.
Maddox looked down at him. “Okay, buddy, you’ve made your point. Pack’s back together. Now give us some privacy.” She pointed toward the hallway, and Zeus walked off toward his bed in the corner, circling twice before settling down with a contented huff.
Maddox turned back to Jade, her expression vulnerable and hungry all at once. “Come to bed with me. I mean, if you want to. I just…I need to hold you and know this is real.”
Jade took her hand, lacing their fingers together. “It’s real. And yes, I want that too.”
Maddox closed the gap between them and pressed herself against Jade, locking lips with her. Jade walked backward to Maddox’s bedroom, already comfortable navigating the way sightless.
Jade bumped against the bedroom doorframe and smiled, though Maddox didn’t stop kissing her, just pressed her against the frame for a beat, grabbing at her shirt and moving them both into the bedroom.
Jade squeezed Maddox’s hips, then slid her hands underneath her shirt, feeling her strong back muscles. Maddox threaded through her hair and tugged lightly, eliciting a soft moan from Jade, a warm, low sound. Jade lifted Maddox’s t-shirt over her head and tossed it to the side and let Maddox peel off her clothes too.
Maddox turned to grab the pillow and throw it in the middle of the bed and laid down. Jade cocked her head to the side, confused for a second.
“Hop on,” Maddox said, her voice full of hunger and desire.
Jade climbed on the bed and positioned herself on Maddox’s face, staying on her knees to make sure to not put her whole weight on her.
