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And that’s dangerous.
“Nora.”
I shake my head once, trying to clear it. “This is moving too fast.”
Rhett studies me quietly for a long second. “You want me to stop?”
The worst part is I know he would.
Immediately.
No manipulation. No guilt.
Just that dangerous, steady control he carries around like a second skin.
And somehow that makes this harder.
Because I don’t want him to stop.
“I didn’t say that.”
“No,” he agrees softly. “You didn’t.”
His thumb brushes my jaw slowly, grounding and distracting all at once.
“You’re thinking about leaving,” he says.
I blink. “Excuse me?”
“You get overwhelmed and your first instinct is distance.”
I hate how exposed I feel around him sometimes.
“You don’t know everything about me.”
“No.” His eyes lock onto mine. “But I know that.”
The cabin falls quiet except for the storm outside and the crackling fire behind us.
Rhett steps closer again, slower this time.
Careful.
Like he’s handling something he actually values.
“You wanna know what the problem is?” he asks quietly.
“What?”
“I’m already past the point where this is temporary for me.”
The words hit so hard my pulse stumbles.
He says it so plainly.
No games.
No hesitation.
