“It does.” He rubs his face and shakes his head. “I’m not that guy. I found my shadow, my anchor, and she’s sitting right here beside me. She gave me her kiss and I gave it back. I hurt her over and over again, and still she’s here, listening, even though I don’t have a chance with her. Not after all this.”
Sophie’s words make sense now. She saw it and I didn’t—we were both turning into the same person—someone jaded and heartless. Neither of us chose it, it just happened, and Sophie stopped it. I don’t know what to do. I feel like it’s my move, but I’m frozen. Whatever I say next changes everything. I could destroy him. When he speaks, there’s a tremble in his voice.
My eyes search the room and land on the thimble next to me on the nightstand. I take it in my hand and fiddle with it. Nick turns and looks at me. I stand and walk over to him, but this time instead of a snide comment, I hold out the object.
“I’ve worn this every day since I was twelve, until I gave it to you.” It’s an innocent statement. I reach for his arm and lift his hand, placing the symbolic kiss in the center of his palm and closing his fingers around it. Nick watches me intently as I lift his other hand and bring it to my lips. My body is tense and I can’t breathe, but I also can’t stop. Pressing my lips to the center of his palm, I close my eyes for a moment while I savor kissing his hand, and then pull away.
Tension lines Nick’s body, like he can’t believe I just did that. It was innocent and sexy at the same time, and if the man keeps looking at me like I’m a goddess I’m going to cry. Watching him, I shrug my shoulders like it doesn’t matter when Nick doesn’t respond. He stands very still, staring at me.
Worry that it was too weird or wrong fills my chest. Just when I’m about to turn away, he takes the thimble and presses it to his lips. “You see through me. I’m a sheet of glass to you.” I’m breathing too hard. We’re standing nose-to-nose when he slips the necklace into his pocket. “Don’t break me, Sky.”
“Ferros are unbreakable,” I say. “As soon as that door opens, everything will change.” I feel his eyes moving up and down my body and I want more. I want him, but I’m afraid. I can’t tell what’s real and what isn’t because this feels like a dream.
“It will. You’ll go back to being my idol and I’ll keep my distance the way I did before.”
My stomach twists as tingles spread over my skin from head-to-toe. The way he looks at me says everything. “What if I don’t want that?”
“Then show me,” he whispers. “Show me want you want, Skylar.”
CHAPTER 29
I’m nervous and have trouble finding the words. “I’m not a one-night-stand kind of girl.”
“Neither am I.” He reaches for me and tangles his hands in my hair on either side of my head, watching me, waiting.
“Deegan was a fluke.”
“You don’t have to explain.”
“I’ve only ever been with one guy before, and I—” I’m breathing so hard that my chest is rising and falling. Every time I inhale, my chest brushes against his and I die a little. It shoots feelings through my body that I haven’t felt in a long time, but they’re magnified. It’s different, better.
He strokes my hair, pulling out the pins and letting it fall loose down my back. “And you what?”
If this doesn’t make him run, nothing will. I drop the bomb and wait for him to jerk back. “I was in love.”
I can’t read him. Nick stays perfectly still, looking into my eyes. “And now?”
“That’s not fair.”
“Life’s not fair. Tell me. Say it, Sky.”
I’m about to swoon. I finally know what that word means. I feel desire consuming me and if I don’t kiss him soon, I’m going to die. He’s a breath away from me. I could just lean in and close the gap. I don’t have to say it. “You say it.”
He blinks at me, as if deciding something, and then everything changes. The tension between us heightens and he leans in, whispering in my ear, “Am I so transparent to you?”
A shiver runs down my spine. When he presses his lips to my neck, I gasp aloud. Nick moans in response and my knees go out. He catches me in his strong arms and sits me on the side of the bed, assuming nothing. When he looks up at me, the pull is so strong that the space between us closes without thought. Suddenly his lips are on mine, soft and perfect. Nick brushes his mouth against mine again and again, slowly, waiting for me to let him in.
His hand lifts to my cheek and he angles my head back. I feel woozy, like I’ll fall back and I want to pull him down with me. I fight it, remaining upright until the kiss deepens. My tongue flicks against his lips and he’s there, ready to taste me. I shiver and Nick wraps his arms around me, holding me tight, kissing me fiercely. I gasp and tear at his shirt, trying to get it off. Nick stops and yanks it over his head. When he glances at me, I reach up, slowly pulling my blouse over my head and revealing the lacy black and pink bra beneath. I’m so glad I didn’t wear granny panties today.