Derek put the truck in park but didn’t move to get out. He just sat there, staring at the house, his jaw tight.
“Do you want to come in?” The words tumbled out before I could second-guess them.
His head snapped toward me, his eyes searching mine. “Kat—”
“Just for a little while,” I said quickly. “Frankie’s at Maggie’s for the night, and I... I don’t want the evening to end yet.”
The truth of it hung between us, heavy and electric.
Derek’s hand tightened on mine. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” And I was. Terrified, but sure.
He nodded slowly, then climbed out of the truck and came around to open my door. His hand was warm and steady as he helped me down, and when my feet hit the ground, he didn’t let go.
We walked to the front door in silence, my keys jingling as I unlocked it. The sound felt too loud in the quiet night.
Inside, I flipped on the lamp in the living room, casting everything in soft, golden light. Derek closed the door behind us and stood there, hands in his pockets, looking like he was trying very hard not to touch me.
“Can I get you something to drink?” I asked, my voice shaking slightly. “Coffee? Water?”
“Kat.” He took a step toward me, and the intensity in his eyes made my breath catch. “I didn’t come in for coffee.”
I swallowed hard. “What did you come in for?”
He closed the distance between us in two strides, and suddenly he was right there, so close I could feel the heat radiating off his body.
“You,” he said simply. “I came in for you.”
My heart stuttered. “Derek—”
“I need you to understand something.” His voice was rough, raw with emotion. “I’m not here because I want a quick fuck. I’m not here because I’m lonely or bored or looking for something to pass the time.”
He reached up and cupped my face, his thumb brushing over my cheekbone.
“I’m here because I am in love with you. Because I have been since the moment I saw you standing in that kitchen, looking at me like I was something dangerous. Because every day I don’t touch you, don’t kiss you, don’t make you mine, feels like I’m suffocating.”
My breath came in short, shallow gasps. “Derek—”
“I want you, Kat. I want you so fucking bad it’s killing me. But more than that, I wantus. I want to wake up next to you every morning. I want to be there when Frankie needs help with her schoolwork. I want to build a life with you, a real life, not just stolen moments and half-truths.”
His forehead pressed against mine, and I could feel him trembling.
“But if you’re not ready, if you need more time, I’ll wait. I’ll wait as long as it takes. Because you’re worth it. You’re worth everything.”
Tears pricked at my eyes. “I’m scared.”
“I know, baby. I know.” His thumb caught a tear as it slipped down my cheek. “But I’m not going anywhere. I’m not him. I’m here, and I’m staying, and I will spend every day for the rest of my life proving it to you if that’s what it takes.”
Something inside me cracked open, something I’d been holding onto for so long I’d forgotten what it felt like to let go.
“I don’t want you to wait,” I whispered.
His eyes snapped to mine, dark and intense. “What?”
“I don’t want you to wait.” I reached up and fisted my hands in his shirt, pulling him closer. “I want you, Derek. I want this. I wantus.”
“Kat...” His voice was strained, like he was barely holding himself back.
