His head twists until his lips brush my cheek, hot breath puffing over my skin. “I hate how much I want you.”
“Don’t hate me,” I whisper back, turning to find his eyes. “Don’t send me away. Don’t push me out, don’t… don’t…”
Panic closes my throat as more tears track my cheek, and I close my eye so I don’t have to watch whatever comes next.
Pity or anger, indifference.
All of it hurts.
“Don’t throw me away,” I plead. “I just wanted to protect you. I thought I was doing the right thing.”
His breath hitches, dissolving into quiet sobs that echo mine, and something in me shatters completely at the sound.
“Do you still think you did the right thing?” he asks as he presses closer.
I could tell him it was wrong.
Swear I made a terrible decision.
Beg and plead for forgiveness, and claim that he’s right, that he’salwaysbeen right, and I was wrong for making that choice for us both.
I should lie.
But I promised truth.
“Yes.”
He pushes out a shaky, surprised breath before he pushes away from the wall. Instincts flare inside me, telling me if I let him walk away this time, he won’t come back.
He’ll be gone, and I’ll be as good as dead myself.
“Bash, no,” I beg, still gripping his shirt as he bounces back to me.
Questions dance in his eyes—confused, angry things that demand a response I can’t give them.
He inches forward, his internal conflict playing out before me and his restraint held by a thread that’s close to snapping. Tentative fingers grip my chin, and his eyes dip to my mouth before finding mine again.
My lips part, ready to beg, but he silences the pleas trying to escape as he kisses me with devastating gentleness.
It’s not a first kiss, not by hundreds—thousands, even—but gods, it feels like it in all the ways that matter. Uncertain breaths blowing over my skin. Eyes that flutter closed but spring open again, searching for a reaction. Hesitant lips and unsteady hands, and the thundering of our hearts as they reach for their other half.
My palms find their place on his chest, feeling that pounding inside him. He pulls back with a sigh through his nose, still so close I can feel his breath.
Uncertainty fills his eyes, his pupils dilating like he’s perceived a threat.
Fight or flight.
Stay or go.
Another shaky exhale leaves him as he leans forward and kisses me again. There’s more intention behind it this time, more surety behind the questions. My fingers flex against his pecs at the familiar weight of his mouth on mine.
Every cell in my body reacts, crawling to where we touch and igniting as they beg for more.
I’ve always been so fucking greedy with him.
For a few blissful seconds, everything disappears and all that’s left is the two of us together. The axis has been righted, and the world makes sense again.
But it doesn’t last.
