yes drifted to Nicholas across the room, I remembered the way his breath had lingered against my

stless, pacing with that controlled intensit

murmured, watching the

ntered, his gaze sharp, p

f. He had seen more of me than I'd inte

I whispered, almost against my w

wasn't peace but calculation. His jaw tightened,

have told me

s the words left me, I knew I hadn't. The slow drag of

d have calmed me, but instead, it set fire to my skin. He leaned i

a little. Not

e for something solid. "What a

He wanted to lie. I could see it. But then his fingers slipped around mi

ed what you've already stumbled into," he said final

my face. "Who?" The w

m of his heartbeat against mine. For a moment, the world shrank to nothing but us - his

nd the walls, came the unmist

entire body

nd me," he

ent followed, like someo

ion, wasn't just secrets between us anymore. Whatever hovered outside t

ack, steadying me as he reached for the c

ween us, but it was eclipsed now by the shi

nto his world, I realized the truth being c

ked my