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Rylan tugs my hand, gently leading me to the couch. Once we’re seated, he turns to face me, his knees bumping mine. “They’ve all been through something… challenging. So they understand how lonely it can feel. But if you need time alone, don’t be afraid to say it.”
“It’s funny, I was just thinking about how I was used to being alone. But now…”
His eyes narrow at me. “Now, what?”
Crap. Should I say something? Put myself out there? But what if I’m wrong?
I’m a grown woman. Stop being such a chicken.
Holding his gaze, heart thrumming, I throw myself at his mercy. “I missed you.”
Rylan freezes, his features turning to stone. My heart plummets to my feet. Then a light flares in his gaze, almost… hopeful. “When you say you missed me, is it the same as how you miss having Leo around?”
“No.” I’m almost light-headed with nerves. “It’s not the same. I missed you.”
He takes a deep breath, while I balance on the edge between joy or humiliation.
“Charlie.” His hand comes up to stroke the uninjured side of my face. “I’ve been holding back, telling myself I should wait. That you need time, that I don’t want you to feel obligated because I’m protecting you.”
“I don’t—”
“I’ve been holding back because I was scared, too,” he says. “Thinking that you might realize later that it was only gratitude. That once all this is over, you won’t need me anymore.”
Hearing his insecurities gives me confidence. “Ry. I don’t think that. I couldn’t. You’re so much more than just my protector. You’re my friend, you care about me, you make me smile when nothing else can. I feel so many things for you. And—”
My cheeks go hot. “I also think you’re the sexiest man I’ve ever seen.”
Rylan’s voice drops, low and throaty. “Really? The sexiest?”
“Stop.” I duck my face away from him. “But yes.”
In one move, he scoops me into his lap, our faces only inches away. “Charlie. I like everything about you. Your heart, your strength, your bravery. How smart and funny you are. I like how you get so competitive with those video games.”
Pressing a kiss to my forehead, he continues, “I like how kind you are, even when you have every reason to be bitter. And Charlie, hun—I know you’re the sexiest and most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. I know we haven’t even kissed yet, but I’m falling for you.”
My heart does a strange swooping move; then it expands incredibly fast, warmth and happiness filling my chest. “Maybe we could fix that.”
His eyebrows jump up in question. “Fix what?”
“Our first kiss.” Where did the shy Charlie go?
“Ah.” Rylan cradles the back of my head, his other hand supporting my back. “I think we could do that.”
I grab his shoulders as he leans into me, deep green eyes burning into mine. Everything is so bright, so alive, the feel of his fingers threading through my hair, his scent, the firmness of his legs underneath me—
Then his lips touch mine, and everything changes.
As his mouth covers mine, his tongue gently teasing, something clicks. An empty part of me is filled.
As Rylan takes the kiss deeper, his tongue plunging and tasting and stroking, my heart feels whole again.
All the cracks and fissures healing as I give myself over to him. Our heartbeats in synchrony, a perfect match.
This. It’s just a kiss. But it’s so much more.
Finally, we pull apart, both of us gasping for breath.
Then, as he caresses my cheek, a depth of emotions in his eyes, he chuckles. “I’m an idiot.”
