Nicholas kisses me like he's unraveling—slowly, then all at once—his hands sliding down my sides with a deliberate pressure that makes my breath hitch. Every touch feels like he's claiming something he's been denied for too long.
"Reed…" he murmurs against my mouth, voice deeper now, almost wrecked. "You have no idea what you do to me."
His fingers trail along my waist, over my ribs, grounding and possessive at the same time. He shifts closer until there's barely any space left between us—heat pressed to heat, breath mixing, hearts pounding out the same frantic rhythm.
I grab the back of his neck and pull him in again, kissing him hard, giving him all the frustration, fear, desire, grief—the whole storm swirling inside me. He meets it with his own, matching every ounce of intensity like he's been waiting to break open too.
