Chapter 64: The First Kiss
It was a real kiss. -Liana
Liana
I couldn’t stop smiling.
Not the kind of smile you do when someone tells a joke.
The quiet kind. The kind that lingers even when you’re alone.
Because tonight, he took me out.
Dinner. A movie.
Not like the usual stops for groceries or short walks when the air was nice.
This was different. This was intentional.
He picked me up right on time. Held the door open.
Made a reservation. Asked if I wanted dessert.
It was a real date.
And I felt it.
In the way he looked at me across the table.
In the way he didn’t let go of my hand the entire walk home.
Even in the way he stood just a little too close when we reached my door, like maybe he didn’t want to say goodnight yet.
The wind was soft.
My cheeks were warm.
He held my gaze. And for a long moment, neither of us moved.
Then he asked, quietly, “Did you have a good time?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I did.”
I hesitated, then added, “Thank you. For everything.”
He took a step closer. “I’m glad,” he said.
And I felt it. the shift.
That pull in the air. The pause in his breath.
I didn’t mean to lean in. But he was already there.
So close.
His fingers brushed mine.
I looked up.
His eyes searched mine like he was checking for permission.
And I gave it. Not with words, but in the way I didn’t look away.
He cupped my cheek gently. His thumb brushed the edge of my jaw.
And then… He kissed me.
Soft. Steady. Just a press of lips at first.
Then it deepened.
He tilted his head. Moved closer.
And I melted into it.
Not because I knew what I was doing but because it was him.
Because it was right.
Because my whole world had been off-balance for years, and somehow this, his mouth on mine, his hand on my waist, made it feel steady again.
When we finally pulled apart, I could barely breathe.
His forehead rested against mine.
His voice was low. “You’re okay?”
I nodded, barely. Then whispered, “I like it… when you kiss me.”
He inhaled sharply.
His hand on my waist gripped just a little tighter.
His voice roughened. “Liana—”
But he didn’t say anything else. He didn’t need to.
Because the look in his eyes, like he was seeing me for the first time, and wanting all of it, was enough.
He pulled me into a hug, this time tighter, deeper. I buried my face in his chest.
His heartbeat was fast. So was mine.
We stood like that for a while.
In the dark. On the doorstep.
And when he finally stepped back, he kissed my forehead.
“Goodnight,” he said.
“Goodnight,” I whispered.
Then I slipped inside, closed the door, and leaned against it with my hands over my face.
I didn’t sleep for hours.
Not because I was nervous.
But because I couldn’t stop smiling.
Chapter 65: Aftertaste
I want in. -Elias
Elias
I drove home with the window cracked open. Not for the cold air.
For the oxygen.
For the goddamn sanity I was losing by the second.
Her lips were still on mine.
Her scent still on my jacket.
Her voice “I like it when you kiss me” still echoing through every corner of my skull.
I was not okay.
I parked the truck like a man possessed. Barely remembered to kill the engine.
Walked into the house. Stood in the hallway.
Then sat on the armrest of the couch because I didn’t trust my legs to hold me upright.
What the hell just happened?
She kissed me.
No. I kissed her.
And she kissed me back.
Not shy. Not scared. But open. Certain.
Soft lips, soft sigh, soft hands tangled in the front of my jacket like she didn’t want me to pull away.
And god help me—
I didn’t want to pull away.
I’d kissed dozens of women in my life.
But none of them ever looked at me the way she did afterward.
Like she didn’t just let it happen.
Like she wanted it. Wanted me.
My hands were still shaking.
I looked down at my palms. They’d been on her waist less than an hour ago.
She was so small under them.
So warm.
So trusting.
And I… I wanted to ruin that.
Not in a bad way.
But in every way that made my blood run hot and my mind short-circuit.
I wanted to kiss her again. Right now.
Harder. Longer.
I wanted to feel her body press into mine until I couldn’t remember where she ended and I began.
And that terrified me.
Because this wasn’t some random hookup.
This wasn’t lust in a bar or a one-night stand I’d forget by morning.
This was her.
Liana.
The girl I pulled out of a warehouse five years ago.
The woman who now stood on her own feet.
Who kissed me like I was worth it.
Who trusted me with her silence, her smiles, her goddamn heartbeat.
And I— I could barely hold it together.
My jaw clenched. I stood. Paced. Sat again.
Then dropped my face into my hands and let out the slowest exhale of my life.
You don’t deserve her, some brutal voice whispered.
You’re too old. Too experienced. Too messed up.
You’re gonna hurt her.
But another voice…The one that was louder every day said:
She chose you.
She stood there and let you in.
She let you touch her.
She leaned into it. Into you.
So what the hell was I doing sitting here like some scared kid?
Because I am scared, I realized.
Of moving too fast.
Of taking too much.
Of crossing a line she might not even see yet.
She’s never had this.
Never been in love.
Never—
Don’t go there.
I stood again, fists clenched.
Walked to the kitchen. Poured a glass of water. Didn’t drink it.
Just stared at it, jaw locked, heartbeat still too damn fast.
I was losing it.
And the worst part?
I didn’t want to stop.
I didn’t want to pull away or slow down or do the noble thing and keep her at a distance.
I wanted her.
All of her.
Laughs and fears and messy emotions and stupid psych books with sticky notes sticking out.
I wanted her in my arms again. And again. And again.
I looked down at my phone. Nothing from her yet.
No texts. No calls. But that was okay.
Because I didn’t need words to know.
That kiss changed everything.
And there was no going back.
Chapter 66: Breathless
He eases my pain. All of it. -Liana
Elias
The message came at 8:14 p.m.
are you busy?
I was just getting out of the shower. Towel still around my waist.
I typed back.
No. Why?
She took a minute to reply.
nothing. it’s stupid. never mind
Immediately, I knew something was wrong.
Another message followed, five minutes later.
my stomach hurts
bad
I was already dressed and halfway out the door.
It wasn’t her words. it was how she said them.
Liana didn’t complain. Not about pain. Not unless she couldn’t take it anymore.
By the time I reached Alex’s place, the rain had started. Cold and sharp. I didn’t care.
She opened the door in an oversized hoodie, hair pulled back messily, one hand pressed to her lower abdomen. Her face was pale. Lips bitten pink.
“Hey,” she whispered.
“Is it bad?”
She nodded, then stepped aside. I slipped in, shoes still wet.
She had a blanket over the couch, but her posture was tense. knees to her chest, breathing shallow.
I dropped my bag on the counter, pulled out the heat patch, a bottle of ginger tea, and the painkillers I’d picked up from the all-night pharmacy.
“Alex?” I asked.
“Overnight shift,” she mumbled.
I nodded. “Sit. I got it.”
She blinked at me.
“Seriously. Lie down.”
She obeyed. barely, letting me tuck the pillow under her head. I handed her the tea first.
“It’s hot. Sip slowly.”
She did.
I peeled the patch open and sat on the edge of the couch.
“Can I…?” I gestured toward her lower stomach.
She flushed instantly, but nodded.
I lifted the hem of her hoodie, only an inch or two, just enough to place the warm pad over the trembling spot.
She winced. Then sighed. Her whole body seemed to melt into the couch.
“Better?” I asked.
Her eyes fluttered shut. “Yeah…”
I sat beside her. Not too close. But not far either.
“I’ll stay a while. Just in case,” I said.
She didn’t answer.
A few minutes passed.
Then she shifted closer. Just enough so that her shoulder brushed mine.
“I’m sorry I bothered you,” she whispered.
“You didn’t.”
“I know you had a long day—”
“Liana.”
She looked up.
“You’re not a bother.”
The rain tapped against the window.
She leaned into my side.
Her head found my shoulder. Her cheek against my shirt. Warm. Soft. Trusting.
Everything inside me lit up like a fuse.
I froze. My jaw tightened. My breath shallowed.
Because I could feel her.
The weight of her. The warmth. The curve of her thigh against mine.
She whispered, “Can I stay like this for a bit?”
I nodded once. Didn’t speak. Couldn’t.
Because every nerve in my body was screaming.
Don’t move. Don’t ruin it.
But God—it was torture.
Her hand found mine. Our fingers touched. Brushed. Tangled.
She sighed again. “You’re really warm…”
My throat burned.
She was half-asleep now. Soft. Safe. Wrapped around my arm like it belonged to her.
She had no idea what she was doing to me. Or maybe she did.
I didn’t move. I couldn’t. Because if I shifted even an inch, I wasn’t sure I’d stop.
Not this time.
Instead, I closed my eyes.
Breathed her in. And whispered just for me.
“Breathe, Elias. Just breathe.”
And I did. But barely.
Because her chest pressed softly against my arm, warm and real and far too intimate.
And I was completely, utterly—
Breathless.
Chapter 67: Caught
God, I want to die right away. -Liana
Liana
I didn’t hear the door open.
Didn’t hear the keys.
Didn’t hear the footsteps.
Because I was too busy not moving.
Elias’s arms were around me, my head tucked under his chin, our legs tangled like we forgot where we started.
His thumb had been drawing soft circles on my shoulder.
I didn’t want to breathe. Didn’t want the moment to end.
And then—
“Oh my god,” Alex’s voice rang out.
I froze. So did he.
“You guys couldn’t wait until I got home, huh?”
My entire body ignited.
Elias sat up like he’d been shot, but his hand was still on my back.
Alex dropped her bag on the floor and raised an eyebrow. “You’re lucky I’m not your mom.”
“We weren’t—” I started, then stopped. Because what even was I trying to say?
Alex smirked. “You weren’t what? Kissing? Grinding? Dry-humping on my couch?”
“Alex!” I squeaked, face burning hot enough to start a fire.
She laughed. “Girl, relax. I’m just impressed it took this long.”
Elias cleared his throat, hand finally dropping from my back. I didn’t look at him. Couldn’t.
“I’m going to—uh—” I gestured vaguely toward the hallway.
Alex waved like she was sending me off to war. “Sweet dreams, lover girl.”
I died. Right there on the living room floor.
Or I wanted to. I bolted into my room, shut the door, and buried my face in my pillow.
Oh my god.
Oh my god.
Oh my god.
We were just cuddling. Okay, not just. But still.
I wasn’t doing anything bad. Except melting in his arms.
And possibly falling even deeper than I realized.
And now Alex knew. Because she saw it. All of it.
Elias
Alex tossed her jacket on the counter and opened the fridge like nothing happened.
I stayed rooted near the sink.
Still feeling her warmth on my chest.
Still seeing her face tilt up toward mine when the door opened.
Still very much—
Not okay.
Alex cracked open a bottle of water, then gave me a look.
“So… how long has that been going on?”
I stayed quiet.
She grinned wider. “You didn’t even try to lie. Wow. You’re in deep, huh?”
I grabbed the sandwich I left on the counter. “Want half?”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
I bit down.
She waited.
I didn’t speak.
She leaned her elbows on the counter, face lit with victory. “I knew it. I knew that necklace wasn’t just a ‘safety device.’ That’s a man-in-love tracker.”
I rolled my eyes. “Goodnight, Alex.”
But the corner of my mouth twitched.
She caught it. “Was that a smile, Wolfe? Are you—smiling?”
I turned away. Didn’t say yes. Didn’t need to.
Because she was right.
And I didn’t care if she saw it.
I was. Smiling. Like a fucking idiot.
Chapter 68: Warm Enough
I’m in trouble. -Liana
Liana
I was screaming. Internally. Maybe externally, too.
I couldn’t tell anymore.
I had just finished showering, hair wrapped in a towel, oversized T-shirt brushing my knees, when the memory hit me—
Elias.
On the couch.
Arms around me.
Mouth near my ear.
“Stay.” I faceplanted into the bed and let out a muffled wail.
“Why are you like this,” I whisper-yelled into the blanket. “Why am I like this.”
I rolled over. Then back. Then over again.
My heart would not calm down.
I could still feel the heat of his hand on my back.
Still feel the way he held me like he’d been waiting years to do it.
Because maybe he had.
I covered my face with both hands, legs kicking into the air like some kind of cursed Disney princess.
My phone buzzed. I froze. Reached. Looked.
Elias
You warm enough, trouble?
I screamed again. Into the pillow this time. My whole face went red.
Was he seriously doing this to me?
This casually?
With that voice in my head saying it all over again?
I typed.
Deleted.
Typed again.
Liana
…are you trying to kill me
The reply came back instantly.
Elias
just checking
Guess I should’ve stayed and kept you warm myself.
DEAD.
I was dead.
I threw the phone across the bed and curled up in a ball of feelings, noises, and deep, unholy thirst.
This man. This dangerous, dangerous man.
I picked up the phone with trembling fingers.
Typed:
Liana
go to sleep
He sent back:
Elias
can’t
too warm
might be your fault
I actually screamed this time.
Alex knocked on the wall from the other room. “You okay in there?”
No.
No, I was not.
But I was smiling so hard my cheeks hurt.
And I was pretty sure…
He was smiling too.
