“I do not know what happens after Milan,” I admitted. “I do not know what the federation will do. Or my father.” My voice roughened despite my effort to steady it. “I am still afraid.”
Dean stepped closer, giving me time to retreat if I wanted.
I didn’t.
“But I cannot keep pretending losing you would feel acceptable.”
“You don’t have to promise me forever,” he said, his voice low and so gentle.
The same gentleness that almost destroyed me, because he was still leaving me room to breathe even now.
I shook my head. “That is not the problem.”
Dean frowned. “Then what is?”
I shifted close enough to him that our breaths mingled.
“The problem is that I think I would choose you anyway.”
His hand rose to my jaw, fingertips brushing my skin with unbearable care.
“You have any idea how long I’ve wanted to hear that?”
The rawness in his voice nearly destroyed me, and then elation speared through me so fast it hurt.
Dean kissed me before I could think any further. His mouth moved against mine with enough restraint to feel deliberate rather than hesitant, and I kissed him back with every ounce of hunger I had spent the last forty-eight hours trying unsuccessfully to suppress.
I had spent my entire life learning the shape of restraint, only to discover in Dean’s arms, with Dean’s lips on mine, that I no longer wanted it.
He drew back only far enough for our foreheads to rest together.
“Zostan.”
Stay.
Kvrat.
I swallowed. “You should sleep. Tomorrow?—”
“Tomorrow’s still tomorrow.” His mouth curved against mine. “And if you expect me to win gold, then I’m gonna need proper motivation.”
Despite everything, a laugh escaped me.
Dean kissed the corner of my mouth. “That’s my Luka.”
Warmth spread through me so fast it almost hurt.
Then practicality returned with brutal timing. “We should still be careful,” I muttered. “My hip. Your program. We cannot do anything reckless.”
“That is the least convincing invitation to take things slow anybody has ever delivered.” I stared at him, and he grinned. “We could always just sleep, you know.”
I stared at him. “You think that’s actually possible?”
Dean laughed. The sound settled somewhere deep inside me. For the first time in days, the future wasn’t the thing occupying all the space between us.
Tonight it was simply Dean. Dean’s hand in mine.
“Zostan.”
