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He stepped closer, his hand brushing mine. “Don’t apologize. That’s not what matters anymore.” My breath hitched.
“What matters,” he said, voice rough, “is that you’re here now. That somehow, after everything, we found each other. And I’m not going to let you go.”
He kissed me.
Soft at first. Gentle. A confession.
But then I kissed him back-and something between us snapped.
His arms wrapped around my waist as mine tangled around his neck. We stumbled through the hallway, into the bedroom, leaving no space between us. Every touch was desperate, every kiss a promise-one we hadn’t dared to say out loud until now.
His fingers slid under my blouse, tracing the curve of my waist, igniting sparks under my skin. I gasped when his lips found the hollow of my throat.
‘Tell me to stop,” he whispered.
didn’t.
couldn’t.
nstead, I pulled him down to me.
And everything after that was fire-burning away doubt, distance, fear. His mouth against my skin, his hands worshiping every inch like I was something precious. And for the first time in a ong time, I allowed myself to feel it-to want, to need, to love.
When it was over, we laid there-limbs tangled, hearts bare.
His hand ran up and down my arm slowly, anchoring me.
‘You okay?” he asked softly.
nodded. “Yeah.”
We were silent for a while. Just breathing. Just being.
Then, I turned to him. “So… I get to redecorate everything?”
He chuckled, pressing a kiss to my temple. “Everything. You’re the wife now, remember?”
smiled, but something in me still hesitated.
Brent…”
Hmm?”
‘I’m scared,” I admitted.
He shifted, eyes locking on mine. “Of what?”
‘Of this. Of feeling like this. I don’t want to get hurt again. I don’t know if I can take it.”
He didn’t flinch. Instead, he pulled me close again, forehead to forehead.
‘I know the feeling. I’ve been scared too. I built walls thinking they’d protect me… but you broke through anyway. I don’t want anyone else, Liana. Just you. I know I was a bastard before, but if
me-if
you let me if you stay-I’ll prove to you that this is real.”
His voice cracked at the end, and my heart did, too.
I didn’t answer with words.
I kissed him again.
Slow, this time.
Not desperate. Not hungry.
Just… true.
Chapter 14
Brent’s POV
