She has the softest, sweetest smile on her face as she shrugs. “I couldn’t sleep. Maybe it’s adrenaline for me, too.”
I let out a thoughtful hum, my gaze dropping to her feet as my thoughts start to roll through my 4 a.m. mind.
“I really liked having you there tonight,” I say eventually. When I lock eyes with her, Scarlett’sbeaming.
“Yeah?” she breathes happily.
I nod, the realization that’s been swirling in my subconscious finally crystallizing.
“It felt like I was fighting for something,” I admit quietly.
Scarlett’s eyes widen at that. I’ve been honest with her about my thoughts about fighting, so my confession feels just as big for her as it does for me.
And itdoesfeel big. Big enough that I want to give her the rest of my thoughts, to make her see exactly what she means to me.
“I’ve felt…restless,” I rush to explain, needing her to understand. “Aimless. Like I’ve been putting one foot in front of the other for no other reason than to keep going. But my heart wasn’t in it.” My gaze never moves from hers, knowing I’m showing her too much but being unable to regret it. “Until tonight. When I knew you were watching.”
I realized it as soon as I threw the first punch tonight. That purpose I’ve been searching for all these months? In that moment, it hit me as hard as any opponent ever has. It wasn’t fighting that I needed to fulfill me.
It was fighting forScarlett.
I see her pulse hammer in her neck. She might be able to read me like a book, but I can read her, too. She likes what I’m saying. Maybe she still doesn’t trust it completely, but at least shewantsto.
I can’t stand the distance between us any longer. Leaning forward, I pull her chair up against mine and drop my forehead to hers, her rapid breaths now sweet puffs against my lips.
“Is this real?” I ask in a whisper, my voice rife with emotion I no longer want to hide. I’m all in this. “Because if it isn’t, tell me now. I’m so far gone for you already, and if you’re not sure, I?—”
My words cut off when Scarlett presses her lips to mine.
I’m unashamed of the whimper that escapes me as I weave one hand into her hair to return the kiss. But before I can deepen it, she pulls back to whisper, “It’s real. I’m all in with you, too.”
Relief crashes over me.
Gently, I take the mug from her hands and set it down out of the way. And then I guide her into my lap, sink my hands into her hair again, and kiss her with the full power of my feelings.
I don’t know how I ever survived without kissing her. Her lips are soft, her taste enough to make me dizzy with want. I could kiss her for hours and never get tired of it.
But it’s not just the way she takes over my senses. It’s also the way she kisses meback.
She kisses me like she can’t survive another second without it either.
Her hands fisted in my shirt, she pulls herself as flush to my body as she possibly can. I’m already tilting my head to deepen the kiss when her hips rock against me. And the second my tongue touches hers and she breathes the sweetestsighinto the kiss, I’m a goner.
Securing one arm under her butt, I carefully stand with her in my arms, my lips never leaving hers. I feel for the door and slide it open.
I love feeling Scarlett’s legs tighten around my waist as I walk us into the bedroom. I love the way she wraps her arms around my neck and pulls herself closer with a happy hum. Our physical chemistry has never been a question, but this feels like so much more than that.
This feelsreal.
I can’t bring myself to put any distance between us, even when I lay her down on the bed. With my weight settled comfortably on top of her, I continue to kiss her, wanting to stay in this moment forever.
But eventually, hips start to grind and our breaths come quicker. When Scarlett lets out a whimper before nipping at my bottom lip, all of my blood rushes to my cock.
“Fuck, baby,” I groan against her lips. “What do you need? I’ll give you anythi?—”
Scarlett’s hand covers my mouth. I pull back just enough that I can look down at her with a questioning gaze.
Vulnerability shines in her eyes. “I want to not think,” she whispers.
