Page 196 of Before We Were

This beautiful, fractured but unbreakable girl doesn't just hold my heart. She owns every piece of me, even the ones I thought too dark to give, too broken for love. To love her is to surrender, to stop fighting and fall like rain meeting the ocean.

And fuck me, I'm falling—harder and deeper than possible. Her quiet smile, meant just for me, undoes me completely.

"You know, you should consider writing a book one day."

Her laugh makes my heart ache because all I want is to hear that sound every day, to be its cause.

"Maybe."

"Come on," I say softly, coaxing like trying to tame something wild. "You're tired. Let's go inside."

"I'm glad you're not ignoring me anymore." Her teasing holds a vulnerable plea that cuts through me.

My fingers slip into her dark-silk hair.

"I wasn't trying to ignore you," I admit roughly. My hands frame her face like holding something precious, tilting her chin up. "I was trying to stay away," I continue, truth burning out of me. "And I failed miserably."

There’s no hiding now, just us and everything buried beneath my skin.

"Don't you get it?"

"Get what?" Her voice wavers.

"I was keeping my distance because I knew I couldn't have you." The words tighten like a noose, but she needs to know how she's become my gravity.

"What does that even mean, Nate?"

"I told you. I can lose everything and can say goodbye to everyone else, but not you, Leni. Not you. But I'm done fighting it," I surrender.

"Nate?" Her gaze drops to my lips. “Kiss me."

"If I kiss you," I murmur, "I won't want to stop."

"So don't."

I close the distance and everything dissolves into her—her sweet taste, her touch electric as lightning, her body fitting against mine like puzzle pieces completing a picture. My hands tighten in her hair, pulling her closer as she clutches my shirt, matching my need, my desire for her and only her.

Her soft moan breaks something loose as my lips part hers, claiming them. Her legs tremble, and I hold her tighter, holding us both steady. But it's not enough—it's never going to be enough.

"We should head back," I manage, though everything in me screams to keep her close.

She sighs and takes my hand.

Inside, silence wraps around us. The house is spotless, showing no signs that a party took place only hours earlier.

Nora turns with a teasing smile that makes my heart stumble. "You're actually walking me to my door?"

"I wouldn't want you to trip over the floorboards," I smirk, but catch her wrist when she playfully shoves me.

Our lips meet again, and her hands close around my neck until there's no space between us.

"I need to—" I whisper, shaking with restraint.

"Stay. You need to stay."

I rest my forehead against hers, letting her read the truth in my eyes.

"I sleep better when you're next to me," she confesses.

---