That was enough.
He leaned in slowly, giving me every chance to change my mind. I didn’t. My breath caught as his forehead brushed mine, our noses nearly touching.
“Okay,” he murmured.
His lips met mine — gentle, careful, warm.
Heat unfurled through me in a slow, golden wave. My power stirred again, humming low beneath my skin, then settled as though it recognised this for what it was — connection.
When he pulled back slightly, his mismatched eyes were blown wide, like he couldn’t quite believe I was real.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
I nodded, dazed. “Yeah.”
He smiled, soft and fierce all at once. “So am I.”
I kissed him again, deeper this time, not out of desperation but because I could.
The world narrowed to warmth and breath and the steady weight of him in front of me. My fingers twisted in the blanket, grounding myself as every nerve in my body came alive.
Ash made a quiet sound against my mouth. One hand lifted instinctively — then stilled, hovering, waiting.
When I didn’t pull away, he let his palm settle lightly at my side through the fabric. Not pressing. Not claiming. Just there.
For once, nothing inside me felt like it was about to shatter.
Tears slid freely down my cheeks.
“Don’t cry,” he whispered, brushing his forehead against mine.
“I’m not — I just…” My voice broke. “I’ve never let myself feel this.”
His expression softened.
“Can I hug you?” he asked carefully. “You can wrap up in the blanket.”
I nodded.
I pulled it around my shoulders, and he leaned in, his arms sliding around me without touching exposed skin. I burrowed into him.
A hug.
So simple, and yet – it was everything.
He breathed in my scent at my nape.
“I don’t want to let you go,” he whispered.
“Then don’t,” I said softly.
He chuckled against my throat.
A knock at the door broke us apart.
“Seph?” I heard Kieran say. “You in there?”
Ash growled, rolling his eyes. “You want me to punch him?”
