Page 298 of Eternal
“Gotta keep it interesting,” I mutter. “I like you. A lot.”
Silence.
I freeze.Shit.Why did I say that?
She stops the movie and starts putting on her music like she needed it to keep talking like that, heart open, and the movie was too distracting to her.
She looks at me with something unreadable in her eyes. “Oh?” she teases gently, leaning in. “You really like me?”
I nod, painfully honest. “Yeah. So don’t run. I’m bad at grief. Might go full tragic villain.”
“Are you trying to be romantic using that weird, toxic and possessive threat?”
“I mean... maybe?” I brush her hair back from her face, my voice softer than I intend. “I’ll forever be romantic for you. Even when it’s messy. Especially then.”
She goes quiet, her fingers rest lightly on my chest. “I don’t like thinking aboutforever,” she says finally. “Feels…heavy. Scary. Like tempting fate.”
I don’t answer right away. I let my hand trace slow, steady circles on her back. “Why’s it scary?”
“Because things end. People leave. Everything changes. Even the good stuff.”
“Maybe,” I say quietly. “But you being mine doesn’t feel temporary.”
She doesn’t respond immediately, but she shifts closer. “I think… I like being your partner,” she mumbles, like the words are new in her mouth. “Youronly one.”
My lips twitch, almost smiling. “My favorite and only partner. As long as you promise to never try to kill me again just to make forever possible.”
She hums, glancing up. “No promises. But if it’s with you… maybeforeverwouldn’t be so bad.”
I brush a thumb down her cheek, voice low. “Then it’s settled.” I grin now, darker, playful. “I’ve got you now. Myeternalpartner.”
She hummed softly, staring up at the ceiling, her voice dropped to a whisper. “Eternity... that's a long time, though. How are you even going to entertain me for that long?”
I slid my fingers under her chin, tilted her face toward mine.
“I’ve already got you, don’t I?” I murmured. “You’re mine now. My eternal Azra. You just don’t get to back out.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like a threat.”
“Nah. Sounds likeforeplay.”
Her breath hitched, just slightly.
I dragged my thumb along her lower lip, watching it part. “I don’t care what it means or what it’s called. I just need you to stay exactly where you are.”
“Possessive much?”
“Deadly.” I kissed the corner of her mouth. “And I mean it. No one else gets you. Not in this life. Not in the next.”
She stared up at me like she was memorizing something, then: “Fine. You win. Eternity it is.” A pause. “But if you get annoyed, I’m stabbing you, again.”
I grinned. “That’s right.”
She sighed into me, and I let the silence stretch before leaning in again, lips just above hers.
“We’reeternal, partner,” I whispered.
And this time, when I kissed her, she didn’t flinch or pull away. She kissed me like she believed it too.
