Page 281 of Blackwood

I glance at him. “You really think she’s back?”

“I think she’s healing. She’s not just surviving. She’s living, babe.”

The weight of that hits me hard. For so long it’s just been about keeping her afloat, keeping her from drowning in everything she lost. But now she’s swimming on her own again. Even if just for a night.

I let out a breath and reach over, interlacing my fingers with his. “God, I hope you’re right.”

He squeezes my hand, warm and steady. “I am.”

On the court, the girls launch into a new Latin routine and Bella takes center like she was born for it. Her body rolls with every beat, hair whipping, a smile tugging at her lips that’s wicked and real. She looks like fire and freedom. We both sit there, hands locked, watching the girl we love burn up the floor.

“She’s back,” Cade says again, this time with quiet certainty.

Knox’s voice cuts through the gym, the music fading out behind him. “Ellie, you and Hales need to run your duet for Worlds backup. Let’s see it clean. Bella, take a damn break and go sit with your boys. I’m pretty sure after that chair routine with Cade, Lex is feelin’ a little lonely.”

Cade barks out a laugh, elbowing me. “You okay, babe? Feeling neglected?”

I smirk, eyes locked on Bella. “Neglected isn’t the word… more like starved.”

Bella walks up and sits her pretty little ass in my lap. “Hey, baby,” she says, a little breathless, a little smug.

I grab the back of her neck and pull her down, crashing my mouth against hers. There’s no teasing in this kiss, no gentle lead-in. I kiss her like she’s the surface after too long in the deep.

Her lips part for me instantly, hungry and hot. My fingers thread into her hair, and I tilt her just the way I like. Deep. Demanding. Desperate to feel her. Even more desperate to see for myself if Cade is right. When I pull back, my chest is heaving and not from the damn heat in this gym.

“You’re really back, malyshka,” I breathe, eyes wide.

She doesn’t answer with words. She grabs the front of my shirt, yanks me in, and kisses me harder.Dirtier. She sucks my bottom lip into her mouth and bites down, slow and sharp, and I groan.My cock twitches under her ass—fuck, she knows what she’s doing.

“I’m back, baby.”

She turns around and leans back against me, settling into my lap with this casual confidence like she owns the whole fucking world. Like I’m her throne and she’s finally come home to it. We sit there, locked together, her spine against my chest, watching her best friends take the floor.

In the middle of Ellie and Haley’s number she sits up, eyes flicking toward Knox at the DJ booth.

“Now?” she says quietly, like she’s confirming something. “Okay, who’s bringing it out there?”

I blink, confused as hell, until I realize she’s talking to Knox on the damn walkie.

“Okay yeah,” she nods again, then turns to me.

“I need to go change.”

I don’t move. “No.”

“Lex.”

“Baby.”

“Lex.”

I tighten my grip around her waist like she might disappear again if I let her go.

“Lex,” she says again, exasperated, but fighting a smile.

Then she turns to Cade.

“Cade. Will you please tell our brute of a boyfriend to let me go so I can go change.”