I swallowed, nervous for what I wanted to say next. “You make me excited about the future.”
He blinked slowly. “I know you’re scared of this—of us—but I am too,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had someone in my life I couldn’t imagine losing...until you.”
Happiness erupted in my chest.
“You really think we could be something after this?” I asked, staring at our intertwined hands.
His sharp laugh unleashed a flurry of unease within me.
“We sure as hell better be something after this. I’m not leaving here without you; I hope you know that.”
Relief flooded through my entire body at his proclamation. He felt the same way I did. Eli Price actually wanted to be with me. For real. Not just in this hypothetical reality we currently resided in.
“I’ve fallen completely head over heels for you. I’m sorry if that freaks you out, but it’s the truth,” he continued, chinresting on my head. I could hear the vulnerability in his voice. “I hope it doesn’t freak you out, though.”
“It did,” I admitted. “But only because I feel the same way.”
“Come here,” Eli said, grabbing my hand.
My stomach flipped as he pulled me onto his lap. Settling in, I couldn’t ignore the hot, tingly sensation that had permeated my entire body. He felt it too. I knew he did by the way his arms tightened around me.
Eli placed a tentative hand on my hip and I leaned against his chest, wrapping an arm around his neck and bringing my other hand up to touch his cheek. A week ago, I never would have thought that this position would bring me more comfort than I’d felt in years.
“I really don’t deserve you,” he murmured. “You’re so perfect.”
I scoffed. “Are you joking? I’m anything but. I’m literally only here because my sister couldn’t watch me waste away anymore.”
“And I’m only here because I have a shitty reputation and my dad finally got fed up. That doesn’t change the fact that you’re amazing. Way too good for me, but I’m secretly hoping you don’t realize that.”
“Hey,” I scolded. “You’ve been amazing to me the entire time we’ve been here. You’ve supported me. You’ve listened to me. And you’ve never treated me like I was some charity case or that I was too fragile. You saw something in me from the beginning.”
Eli flinched just barely. “You’re giving me way too much credit,” he whispered, sighing heavily, yet not loosening his grip.
“Stop that.” I pointed a finger at him. “You seriously have no idea how much you’ve done for me. I love how protectiveyou are, but you still always push me to do things even when I think I can’t. I love how, whenever I share things about myself, you actually listen. And instead of getting uncomfortable with the heavy stuff, you always try to think of what to say that might resonate with me. I’m excited to know you out of here. To travel with you—God, I’ve never met anyone I wanted to travel with before. And I can’t wait to share my writing with you and to read yours. I haven’t been excited about that in a long time.”
His jaw clenched as he let my words wash over him.
“Maybe you were the last person I thought I could fall for, but I’m so glad I did. You’re so much more than some stupid reputation. You’re smart. You’re genuine. Your eyes light up when you’re excited and they get vulnerable whenever you share something real with me. I’m so happy I met you, Eli.”
The fire danced in the reflection of his eyes as he looked at me intensely. “Calla, you have no idea how happy I am that I met you.”
With that I crushed my mouth to his. His lips were warm and soft, and he immediately let me take control. My fingers found his hair and I pulled him toward me, wanting to be as close to him as possible. He groaned and kissed me back, his hand running up my leg leaving a trail of sparks in its wake.
Eli’s warm fingers found their way under the hem of my thick fleece, caressing my waist, and I gasped with desire. It had been a long time since I’d felt this way. We broke the kiss, breathless. He rested his forehead against mine.
“I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you,” he panted.
My body shuddered.
“I mean it, Calla. I can’t stop thinking about you. About what we could become outside of here.”
I pulled back so I could look into his eyes, so sincere and filled with longing.
“You’re beautiful,” he continued. “Inside and out.”
“Stop,” I said.
“No, I’m serious.”
