Page 145 of The Code of You

Gasping, I collapsed. I was done. My limbs gave out. He caught me, pulled me against his chest.

"That was . . .” I couldn’t find the words.

"Intense,” he finished. His voice was wrecked.

I leaned into him, felt his warmth, his heartbeat. "Neo,” I breathed, and turned to look at him.

He smiled. But then he really looked at me. "Oh God,” he whispered. "Pandora . . .”

I was trembling, my whole body shaking.

"Hey.” The hardness left his voice completely. "Look at me.”

I tried to focus. Everything blurred. Black spots danced at the edges of my vision.

His head tilted slightly, his eyes studying my face. "I’m here,” he murmured. "I’m right here.” He pulled me into his arms and held on. "You’re shaking,” he said, regret in his voice now.

"I . . . I can’t stop.”

"Shh.” His hand moved over my hair. "It’s okay. You’re okay.” He barely touched my skin. "Breathe, just breathe.”

I tried. The first breath came out jagged and broken. The second went a little deeper. Slowly, my racing heart started to settle. I let myself fall against his chest.

"Better?” he asked quietly.

I nodded. "Yes.”

He kept holding me. His hands were on my back. "Pandora,” he said after a moment. "Do you want to talk about it?”

I lifted my head and looked at him.

"About what just happened,” he continued. "About me. About what I am.” His eyelids flickered briefly. The muscles around his eyes stayed tense for too long. "It’s too much, isn’t it?”

"Yes,” I said honestly. "It’s too much.” My vision blurred again. "But I want it this way.”

"Pandora . . .”

"No, listen to me.” I pulled myself upright with what strength I had left. "You’re asking me if it’s too much. Yes. It is. My body can barely keep up. My mind can’t either.”

He started to say something. I didn’t let him.

"But I don’t want it any other way.” My voice steadied. "I want it exactly like this. This is you. And it makes me wild with wanting.”

"No—you drive me insane,” he said through his teeth. "You woke something in me that won’t stop. I’m not like other men. I never get tired. Never satisfied. I’ll never . . .”

Something stirred in me. "Never have enough of me,” I finished.

"Never.”

"Good.” I kissed him. "Then we’re perfect for each other.”

He kissed me back. His lips barely touched mine at first, then pressed harder, more deliberate, opening my mouth. His tongue found mine. When he pulled back, his gaze hit me off guard, as if he didn’t know how to stop looking at me.

"Neo,” I whispered. "You can’t . . . not again . . .”

"I can.” When he spoke, I held my breath. His voice vibrated. "I can’t help it.”

I drew in air. My muscles were still aching, soft as wax. "I’m completely exhausted.”