And God—The look on her face.
Pure relief. Pure joy. And underneath it—Something else. Something that hits me right in the chest.
Before I can think. Before I can stop—I lean in. And I kiss her. It’s not like the others. Not controlled. It’s everything at once. All of it crashing together in the space between us.
Her lips part against mine instantly, like she’s been waiting for this just as much as I have, her hands tightening on my shirt as she pulls me closer.
And I let her. Itakeit.
My hand slides up into her hair, gripping gently but firmly, tilting her head just enough as I deepen the kiss without thinking, without holding back.
Because I can’t. Not right now. Not when she’s holding me like that. Not when everything we’ve been holding in finally has somewhere to go. She presses into me, her body fitting against mine like it’s always meant to be there, and it sends a rush through me so strong it almost knocks the air from my lungs.
This—This is what I’ve been trying to stay away from.
This is what I promised—But I don’t care. Not in this moment. Not when it feels like this. Her fingers curl into my shirt, her breath catching as the kiss deepens, and I swear I feelit everywhere—my chest, my hands, my pulse pounding so hard it drowns out everything else.
The world narrows. It’s just us.
Then—
Pain explodes across my face. Out of nowhere. Fast and Violent. I don’t even see it coming. One second I’m kissing her?—
The next—I’m on the ground.
The impact knocks the breath out of me, my head snapping to the side as my body hits hard against the floor.
“What the hell?—”
Voices rise around us. Shocked. Sharp. I blink, disoriented, my ears ringing as I push myself up on instinct, one hand coming to my jaw. It throbs. I taste blood.
And then I see him. Standing over me. Chest heaving. Fist still clenched.
David. Shit.
His eyes are locked on me, and I’ve never seen anything like what’s in them.
Fury. Pure, unfiltered fury.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he demands, his voice shaking with it.
Willow gasps behind me. “Dad—wait?—”
“You don’t touch her!” he snaps, stepping forward again like he might swing a second time.
I push to my feet, steadying myself, my instincts screaming to react—But I don’t.
I can’t. Not him.
“David,” I start, my voice rough, “listen?—”
“No,” he cuts me off sharply. “You listen to me.”
He points at me, his hand shaking.
“I trusted you,” he says. “I let you into my home. Into my family. And this—” he gestures between me and Willow, hisexpression twisting with anger and betrayal “—this is what you do?”
My jaw tightens, pain still pulsing through it.
