He reaches behind me, his fingers working the lock with a quiet snick. Then he pushes the door open, his hand finding mine as he guides me inside. The door swings shut behind us, sealing us in together.
And I know—this is the point of no return.
CHAPTER 35
Finn
I move through the apartment,gaze flicking from the space to her, tracking every breath she takes, every tiny shift of her body. She’s standing just inside the door, arms crossed, biting the inside of her cheek—as though she isn’t sure whether she should be here.
Like she’s deciding if she should run.
She won’t.
I knew it the second I saw her slip out of that window, the second she met me in the alley instead of staying tucked away under the careful, controlling watch of her bodyguards. No one forced her. No one lured her. She chose me.
She always will.
The apartment is bare compared to what I want to give her. She deserves luxury. Soft things. Pretty things. But I’ve only had so much time. It’s functional. It’s safe. It’s ours.
But she deserves more.
She shifts her weight from one foot to the other, gaze flicking over my space with quiet assessment. It’s not enough. I grind my teeth against the thought, my fingers twitching with the need to fix it, to fix everything.
Next time.
Next time, it’ll be perfect.
For now, I will make the best of it. I move toward the kitchen, eyes never leaving her. “Water?”
She hesitates, then gives the slightest nod.
Victory.
I move to the fridge, letting the cool air spill over my skin as I grab a bottle. When I glance back, my pulse spikes. She’s moved. Not toward the door. Not toward escape. But to the window.
And she’s looking.
My stomach tightens. My cock twitches.
She sees it.
Sees exactly how close I’ve been. How my window frames hers perfectly. How I’ve watched her from right here. How I’ve known everything.
She could pretend before. She can’t now.
She lifts a hand to the glass, fingers skimming the cool surface, her gaze locked onto the still-lit space of her own apartment. The one where they are still arguing, still oblivious, still thinking she’s right there with them.
A slow breath leaves my lips. My fingers tighten around the water bottle. I don’t say anything. I just watch. And then she does it.
The tiniest thing.
A shiver. A slow inhale. A press of her thighs together. My vision tunnels. Heat licks up my spine.
She likes it.
The realization slams into me, hard and fast.
She likes knowing how close I’ve been. She likes knowing that I see everything. She likes being here, where I can touch her, where I can reach for her without anything stopping me.
