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Nix
As I took in the relief in Harleigh’s eyes, the simmering gratitude, I was hit with the thought that this was a bad fucking idea.
It was supposed to be a temporary answer to our predicament, not a permanent solution. But here she was planning the décor.
I didn’t want to feed her anxiety, nurture it. I’d thought by doing this for her, it would show her how much I wanted us to make it work. But instead, it felt like I’d just offered her the keys to a kingdom where we didn’t have to go out in public, or face her father or mine.
A kingdom where we could hide our relationship like a dirty little secret.
Fuck.
I was out of my depth here.
When I’d learned about Nate from Max, my first instinct had been to call her up and demand answers. But Nate had been there for her, he’d been on our side. Maybe it was time I trusted his intentions. I couldn’t keep her safe at DA or across the res. But maybe he could.
It was a sacrifice I was willing to make if it meant I got more time with her until we could figure out our next steps.
“This is… Nix, this is perfect.”
My heart sank.
Perfect. That sounded hella permanent.
“It’s just a temporary fix,” I said, cupping her face. “Until we tell them.”
“Y-yeah.” She didn’t meet my eyes and it fucking stung.
But I wouldn’t push. Not here. Not when the clock was ticking on our stolen time together.
“Come here.” I brushed my lips over hers, eliciting a soft whimper from deep inside her.
Kissing Harleigh set my body on fire. Heat swarmed in my chest, low in my stomach. It was primal, some baser instinct that was equal parts smug and as relieved as fuck that I was the only guy who got to experience this. Her. Whimpering and needy.
“We go as far as you want, okay?”
She broke the kiss long enough to nod, to take one of my hands and press it against her chest. Jesus Christ, her curves were sinful. The fact that she was so unaware of how beautiful she was only made it sweeter.
“Is this okay?” I dropped my hands to the hem of her t-shirt, and she nodded, her pupils blown with lust.
I hadn’t brought her here for this, but I wanted her. I wanted her so fucking much. And maybe a part of me wanted to forget too. Wanted to forget that although Harleigh was mine, there were still any number of things that could take her away from me.
She slipped her hands under my hoodie, her touch branding me. Searing me to the fucking bone. How had I ever denied myself this? Her?
I couldn’t ever imagine not having this, not feeling this again.
“I dream of this, you know?” I brought my mouth to her ear and whispered, “Kissing every inch of your skin, painting your body with my tongue, tasting you.”
“Nix.” A breathless moan rolled through her, full of eager anticipation.
Sliding my hand up her spine, I gripped her nape and gazed at her. “You’re mine, Harleigh Wren Maguire. Whatever happens, whoever tries to come between us, you’re mine.”
“Show me,” she breathed the words onto my lips, sealing them with a kiss. “Show me, Nix.”
Emotion tumbled through me. I wanted to show her the world, wanted to make her see herself the way I saw her. I wanted to erase every shred of doubt and insecurity from her mind.
My hoodie came off next, her pants, my sweats. I brushed a hand down her stomach, sweeping it over the curve of her hip. “So fucking beautiful,” I rasped, my throat bobbing, disbelief still lingering in my mind that I got to have this. Her.
“Show me,” she whispered. Begging me with her eyes.
