She’s standing a few feet away, near the entrance to the parking lot, framed by the dim glow of overhead lights.
She’s breathtaking. So beautiful that she stops him cold, like taking a hit straight to the chest. Her hair falls in soft waves around her shoulders, catching the light. She’s wearing a sweater that looks too big for her, the sleeves pulled down over her hands like she’s trying to make herself small.
Like she’s not sure if she should be here.
His heart pounds, his body frozen in disbelief.
She shifts on her feet, her fingers gripping the edges of her sweater. “I—I didn’t know if you’d want to see me.”
Jake exhales sharply, like he’s been holding his breath for days. Maybe he has.
His voice comes rough, barely above a whisper. “Come here.”
For a beat, she hesitates.
Then she moves.
No, she launches herself forward, straight into his arms.
Jake barely has a second to react before she’s in his arms, colliding into him with enough force to knock the breath from his lungs. He catches her instinctively, arms locking around her waist, his hands splaying against her back.
Then her lips are on his.
A sharp, needy sound escapes his throat as he kisses her back, fierce and desperate. His fingers tangle in her hair, pulling her closer. She tastes sweet, like something he was starving for.
Her kisses are hard. Desperate. Like she’s been starving for this, for him.
She clings to him, her hands fisting his suit jacket, her body molded to his like she’s afraid to let go.
He tilts his head, deepening the kiss, letting it say everything he can’t.
His grip tightens. He’s not letting go. Never again.
Finally, she pulls back, breathless, her lips pink and swollen. She looks stricken.
“I—” she starts, but the words spill out too fast, tripping over eachother. “I’m so sorry, Jake. Words aren’t enough. I—God, I should have never left. I came back, but you were gone. I just?—”
Jake doesn’t let her finish.
He cups her face and kisses her again, slow and deep, cutting off her frantic apology. She melts into him instantly, her hands sliding up his chest, gripping onto his shoulders.
When he finally pulls away, he presses his forehead to hers, his voice rough but certain.
“All that can wait,” he murmurs.
Natalie exhales shakily, her fingers still curled into his jacket. “But?—”
Jake shakes his head, brushing his thumb over her cheek. “Not now. Right now, you’re here. That’s all that matters.”
Her breath shudders, but then she nods. “I have to say one more thing.”
Jake lifts a hand, cradling her jaw, his thumb tracing the soft curve of her cheek, skimming over her lips. He’s captivated—by her eyes, by the way she’s looking at him like she’s afraid of what he might say.
“What’s that?” he murmurs.
She swallows hard, her fingers curling into his suit jacket like she needs something to hold on to.
“I love you,” she whispers.
