I can't speak. Can barely think.
"When Lily falls asleep tonight," he says slowly, each word deliberate, "you're coming to my room."
"I—"
"You're not sleeping anywhere else from now on."
My mouth opens. Closes. Opens again.
"That's not—you can't just?—"
"I can." He steps back. Creates distance between us that feels like a physical loss. "And I will. Unless you tell me no. Unless you look me in the eyes right now and tell me you don't want this."
I should say no.
This is insane.
This is the worst possible time to start something with anyone, let alone a man who probably kills people for a living.
But when I open my mouth, the word won't come.
Because I do want this. I want him. Despite everything.
"That's what I thought," Nico says quietly.
He moves toward the door. Pauses with his hand on the handle.
"Tonight," he repeats. "My room. Don't make me come get you."
Then he's gone.
I collapse backward onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. My lips still tingle from his kiss. My skin still burns where he touched me.
What the hell am I doing?
I don't have an answer.
But for the first time, I'm not afraid to find out.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Kristen
The hallway stretches before me like a gauntlet. Every creak of the floorboards sounds like a gunshot in the silence.
This is insane. You're insane. Turn around.
My feet keep moving.
Nico's door looms in front of me. Dark wood. Brass handle. A barrier I'm about to obliterate because apparently I've lost my entire mind.
I raise my fist. Lower it. Raise it again.
My hand trembles.
I knock. Three quick raps that sound pathetically timid.
Nothing.
