He groaned my name one last time—low, wrecked—and followed me over the edge. His hips snapped forward, burying himself to the hilt as he came. I felt the hot pulse of him inside me, felt the way his whole body shuddered, muscles locking tight. The sound he made was raw, almost broken—a long, trembling moan that vibrated against my throat as he pressed his face into the curve of my neck.
We clung to each other through the aftershocks, breathing hard, hearts hammering in tandem. He stayed inside me, softening slowly, unwilling to let go yet. His lips brushed my temple, my cheek, the corner of my mouth—soft, reverent kisses that felt like promises.
When he finally eased out and rolled us so I was draped across his chest, I pressed my ear over his heart and listened to it thunder, then gradually slow. His arms wrapped around me like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go.
“Emory,” he whispered into my hair, voice hoarse. “I’m never letting you go again.”
I smiled against his skin, lashes still damp. “Good. Because I’m not going anywhere.”
And in the quiet, golden light of late afternoon, with our bodies still humming and his heartbeat steady under my cheek, I knew it was true.
This wasn't just passion. This was commitment.
This was forever.
After, we lay tangled together in the fading afternoon light. His hand traced lazy patterns on my back, and I pressed my ear to his chest, listening to his heartbeat slow.
"Stay," he said quietly.
One word. But it held everything.
I lifted my head to look at him. His eyes were soft, vulnerable, more open than I'd ever seen them.
"I told you," I said, smiling. "I'm not going anywhere. I have a house to sit."
He laughed—a real laugh, full and warm—and pulled me closer.
"I don't mean just the next two weeks," he said. "I mean after. I mean…stay. With me. Here."
My heart swelled. "What about law school? It’s online, and I can do it from anywhere, but…"
He brushed a strand of hair from my face. "Do it from here. With me."
"Kai…”
"I know it's fast. I know we've only known each other a couple of weeks. But I've never been more sure of anything in my life." His eyes held mine, steady and certain. "You're it for me, Emory. You have been since the beginning. So stay. Please."
I kissed him softly. "Yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes, I'll stay. Yes, I'll do law school from here. Yes to all of it." I grinned against his lips. "You're stuck with me now."
He rolled me onto my back and kissed me until I was breathless. "Good. Here is exactly where I want you."
8
KAI
Three weeks ago, I'd been a man who lived for silence.
Now I couldn't imagine my life without the sound of Emory humming in the kitchen, her laughter drifting through the cabin, her voice calling my name when she wanted to show me something in one of her textbooks. Something she found fascinating. Something I pretended to understand.
I stood at the edge of the tree line, toolbox in hand, and watched her through the window. She was curled up on my couch—our couch, now—with her laptop balanced on her knees and a highlighter tucked behind her ear. Her hair was piled in that messy bun she always wore when she was studying, and she was chewing on her bottom lip the way she did when she was concentrating.
She looked up, like she sensed me watching. A smile broke across her face, bright and warm, and she waved.
My chest tightened the way it always did when she smiled at me. I didn't think that would ever stop. I hoped it wouldn't.
