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The look in his eyes changes again.

Deeper.

Softer.

And when he grinds his hips into mine, I can’t hold back anymore.

I let go. I let Mitchell in.

Not just into my body.

Past every wall.

Every defense.

Every instinct that tells me to hold something back so there's still a piece of me he can't hurt.

I don't want to hold anything back from him anymore.

Not tonight. Maybe not ever.

I let myself feel everything.

The heat. The tenderness. The terrifying vulnerability of loving someone who doesn't know he owns a piece of your heart.

And somewhere between one heartbeat and the next, I give him the one thing I'm only now realizing he has the power to break.

My heart.

Completely.

Terrifyingly.

Willingly.

I cling to him as the realization rolls through me.

I love you.

I don't say it. But I feel the words with every breath.

Every kiss. Every beat of my heart against his.

I love him.

And maybe this is what falling really feels like. Not losing control. Choosing to give it up.

Trusting someone enough to stop protecting yourself from them.

Mitchell kisses me, and I pour everything I'm too afraid to say into it.

Take it. Take all of me.

Please understand.

Please feel it too.

Please don't make me regret trusting you with this.