I wanted to slow everything down and let her feel how deeply I saw her. How much she mattered. Not just in the fire between us, but in the quiet that came after, when nothing needed to be said. To show her everything she made me feel—the thrill of the fire and the peacefulness of the sea. Her kind soul and brave heart were my compass, and I followed it.
With slow, deliberate steps, I carried her toward the shower, hoping she would feel everything my heart was trying to say. That I cared, even if some part of me whispered I shouldn’t.
Like it wasn’t my right to feel this. Like I hadn’t earned it.
Like loving her was a privilege I didn’t deserve. But selfishly, I took the chance while I still could.
* * *
“I have a question,” I said lazily, gliding my hand down her leg as Hazel lay on the bed, watching me curiously, sheets twisted loosely around her waist.
“Maybe you should work for it first,” she teased, catching me off guard. Some predator instincts kicked in.
“Oh, I can work for it, sweetie.” I was about to drop my head between her thighs, but she dragged my head up.
“No, no, I’m just kidding. Ask me.” Her palm went to my cheek, her softness pulling me back.
“What’s your plan after this break?”
“What do you mean?”
“At Watson’s, you said you’re taking a break from the future.”
“Ahh.” She exhaled softly, lowering her eyes. “Not sure that’s particularly interesting to you.”
“You seem particularly unsure tonight,” I murmured, grazing her inner thigh. She shifted under my touch.
“Even though I love making you speechless...” I caught her nipple in my mouth. She gasped and arched into me as I swirled around her with my tongue. Like a cherry on top of my dessert tonight. “...I like hearing you talk, too.” I let her go and smiled reassuringly. It was the truth after all.
“Well, if I could do anything I want, I’d probably be an editor,” she said shyly.
“Why couldn’t you do anything you want?” I asked. She gave me a skeptical look. “Watson said it himself, you were one of his best students.”
“He just likes to flatter.”
“Hazel.” I propped myself up on one elbow and cleared my throat, holding her gaze. “Watson’s an author, but he’s also a businessman. Even though he agreed to work with us, it wasn’t an easy sell.”
“But Ethan said—”
“I know what Ethan said.” I pushed out a breath. “It was way harder than he made it sound. We spent hours going over every detail. That man’s a beast. He has no time for bullshit, and he’s definitely not into fake flattery.”
Hazel listened intently, letting my words sink in.
“If he says you have potential, I believe him. And so should you.” This time, she didn’t dismiss my words.
“I just...” She hesitated. “When my mom died, the world felt a little too much for me.”
A fragment of her soul slipped through her eyes when they met mine. “I needed to breathe.”
I nodded.
“But I do want to go back to my future. I just haven’t figured out how yet.” She gave me a small smile. I let my hands slide down the full length of her legs, my gaze following. She was so goddamn sexy. And sweet, too.
“Well, whenever you’re ready...” I stopped myself, realizing the words I wanted to say next.
...I’ll be here.
But I won’t, right?
