Page 68 of Moonlight Feels Right
"There's no guarantee I haven't lost it. I've passed one test, but there are more to go."
"But you're feeling confident, right?"
"I am, but I've never been in this position before."
"Haven't you? I'm sure you had to prove yourself at the beginning."
"That was different. I was cocky as hell. I was always the best at everything I did because coming in second was unacceptable."
She smiled to herself, thinking she could have guessed that. "Did that drive come from your father? Were you trying to live up to him?"
"To him and to my older brother. But I didn't want to be as good, I wanted to be better," he said honestly.
"Were you?"
"I thought so, until I got shot out of the sky and realized I wasn't as invincible as I thought."
"I can't imagine what you went through."
"You don't want to imagine it," he said. "Let's talk about something else."
"Okay. It was fun dancing with you. You have some moves."
He gave her a disbelieving smile. "I'm not sure about that, but you were definitely feeling the beat."
She'd been feeling him as much as the beat, and as they neared Ocean Shores, she wondered just how far she wanted to take that feeling, because they were almost home.
When they entered the courtyard, it was empty, which wasn't surprising since many of the residents were still at the bar.
As they neared her apartment, Hunter said, "You're overthinking, Em."
"How do you know?" she asked.
"Because you are suddenly very quiet," he replied as they arrived at her door. "And you get this little crease between your eyebrows when you're worrying about something."
"I do?"
"Yes." He reached out to smooth the spot with his thumb. The casual touch sent electricity dancing across her skin. "That's better. You know that nothing will happen that you don't want to happen."
"I'm conflicted as to what I want to do and what I should do," she said.
"I get it," he said with a nod of understanding. "I can't make you any promises. I don't want to lead you on. But I do care about you, Em. And there's a fire between us that gets hotter every day."
"I feel the same way," she admitted. "And I'm not asking you for promises. It's not on you, Hunter. It's on me."
"Your decision," he agreed.
She studied his face in the soft light of the hallway—the strong line of his jaw, the intensity and desire in his dark eyes, the hint of uncertainty beneath his confident exterior. This man who'd been so closed off, so damaged when she'd first met him, now stood before her, offering something she hadn't known she wanted until now.
"It doesn't have to be complicated," he added.
He'd been open and honest, completely transparent. No promises, no platitudes—just the truth. And maybe that was enough.
She took her keys out of her purse and opened the door. Then she turned to face him. "I'd like you to come in."
He let out a breath. "Good, because I'd like to come in."
As she stepped back, he moved into her apartment, then kicked the door shut and pulled her into his arms. She met his kiss with the passion that had been building between them for days. She might not have him forever. But she had him tonight, and she was going to make it a night to remember.
