Page 17 of His To Unravel (His & Hers Duet #1)

The words sting, sharp and unexpected, a painful reminder of every insecurity I’ve tried to bury.

His implication is clear. He still thinks I’m not good enough for Nathaniel—that it’s inevitable he’ll grow bored of me.

Frustration and hurt well up inside me, but I force myself to swallow them, holding his gaze with as much calm as I can muster.

“Landon, that’s not fair,” I reply, my voice even, though I feel the edges of my patience beginning to fray. “You may think you know what kind of person Nathaniel is, but he’s been nothing but kind and supportive. You’re wrong about him. And about me.”

Landon looks away, his mouth set in a stubborn line. I want to press him further, but I stop myself, sympathy tugging at me. I can see the pain in his expression, the frustration barely concealed beneath his mask of indifference. So, instead, I take a breath, letting the silence settle between us.

We reach the edge of campus, where our paths diverge, and I pause, giving him a small, kind smile. “Thanks for walking me back, Landon,” I say, hoping to end the night on a softer note.

He nods, still looking off into the distance, and mutters a soft, “Anytime, Liv.” With a final glance my way, he turns and walks in the opposite direction, his figure disappearing into the night.

As I continue down the path alone, a heaviness settles over me. My mind replays Landon’s words, his warning echoing uncomfortably.

Part of me knows I should tell Nathaniel what happened. But I hesitate.

Because deep down, I know exactly how he’d respond, and I don’t want anything—or anyone—disturbing the tentative balance I’ve finally found.

Eager to make up for lost time, Nathaniel surprises me when he shows up at my doorstep the next evening to whisk me away on another date.

The rooftop he brings me to feels like something out of a dream. It feels like we’re somewhere else entirely, cut off from everything except each other.

Fairy lights strung above us give off a gentle, golden glow against the deep blue of the evening sky. The city skyline stretches before us, alive with twinkling lights, and soft instrumental music drifts through the air.

Nathaniel takes me by the hand and leads me to the edge of the rooftop, where a small table is draped in crisp white linen and surrounded by candles.

He pulls out a chair for me, his fingers grazing my forearm as I lower myself into the seat–a fleeting touch, but deliberate enough to make my skin hum.

Waiting at the center of the table is a petite white box tied with a ribbon, next to two flutes of sparkling wine. I blink, already curious.

He sits across from me, gaze steady. “Open it.”

I lift the lid—and freeze.

Tiramisu. From Rinaldi’s. The best Italian spot in town.

“You remembered,” I say, touched and a little stunned.

His expression is calm, but his voice is gentle. “You said you were craving something sweet last week.”

I think back—an offhand comment after class, when I’d complained about needing a sugar fix. He’d asked, casually, what I would pick if I could have anything right then. I’d laughed and rattled off an answer without thinking, but of course, Nathaniel took it to heart.

“Thank you.” The words catch slightly as they leave me. I hadn’t expected to feel this moved by something so small—but that’s what gets to me. The way he never forgets even the smallest details.

Nathaniel’s gaze softens. “You’re very welcome.” His thumb brushes briefly against my fingers—just once, but enough to make my pulse skip.

He settles across from me, his hand still resting near mine on the table, close enough that I feel the heat radiating off his skin.

“I missed you last night,” he says, his voice low, with a hint of vulnerability that surprises me .

I can’t help but smile, warmed by the sentiment. “It was just one night, Nate.”

“One night too many,” he says, his eyes softening as they hold mine. “How was it?”

The question brings an unexpected rush of guilt. My thoughts flicker to Landon—his confession, his determination, his hurtful words. But I push them away. I won’t let him ruin this night too.

I remind myself to stay in the present, on Nathaniel, who planned this entire evening just for me.

“It was good,” I reply, deliberately shifting my focus to the happier parts of the night. “Sophie and Carolyn were really fun, as always.”

He takes that in, a grin playing on his lips. “That sounds like them.”

I clear my throat, wanting to shift the spotlight. “And what about you? What did you do with your wild night of freedom?” I tease.

“I spent the night studying. Trying to get caught up,” he admits with a smirk, leaning back slightly as he folds his arms.

I beam, a surge of pride and admiration filling me. Since transferring into my classes, he’s been buried in coursework. But in true Nathaniel fashion, he’s unfazed. He’s already almost on top of everything, his intellect and determination so naturally woven into everything he does.

Shaking my head, I say, “I’m not sure how you manage it. It’s like you’ve done everything we’ve covered so far in your sleep.”

“That’s because I have a strong incentive to keep up,” he replies, his gaze unwavering. “I wouldn’t have done it if it weren’t for you.”

The sincerity in his tone sends warmth rushing to my cheeks. There’s something so certain in his words, that it leaves me feeling… cherished .

Fairy lights glow around us like an embrace, their warmth softening the edges of the evening as it settles deeper into intimacy.

The city sparkles in the distance, a shimmering backdrop to the low murmur of our conversation and lingering glances. Nathaniel’s hand finds mine across the table, his thumb brushing softly over my knuckles in a rhythm that feels as familiar as my own pulse.

His gaze holds a depth that seems to reach beneath the surface and settle into parts of me I usually keep hidden.

The way he looks at me makes it hard not to believe, even just for a moment, that I might actually be someone worthy of this kind of attention.

When he leans in, his kiss is soft at first, a gentle brush that hints at something deeper. But it quickly intensifies into a surge of passion that sends my heart galloping as he parts my lips and slips his tongue into my mouth.

His hands drift to my waist and he pulls me closer until the world around us fades, leaving only the sensation of his touch and the taste of him on my lips. Each kiss feels like a revelation, stirring a need that blooms fast and sharp.

In this private space, something shifts within me. This is more profound than mere attraction or chemistry; it’s a bone-deep trust.

In just a short time, he has done so much for me. He makes me feel seen in a way I haven’t experienced before, and he seems so genuinely invested in my happiness, it inspires something in me—a desire to meet him in that same place.

I don’t feel pressured. This isn’t about obligation or owing him anything. It’s a choice I want to make. A gift I want to give.

I want him to feel as cherished as he makes me feel.

“Nate…” My voice is barely above a whisper, but he hears me. His blue eyes soften, curiosity flickering in them as he waits.

“You’ve been so generous with me…” I begin, words spilling out in the same breathless rhythm as my heartbeat. “You see me…and you make me feel so safe. I… I want to show you how much that means to me. I want to choose you back, Nate. Not just with words.”

His gaze darkens, his grip on my waist tightening. I take a deep breath to steady myself before I lose my nerve. Without breaking eye contact, I drop to my knees before him, fingers finding the buckle of his belt. I meet his gaze and, echoing his question from the garden, I softly ask, “May I?”

His eyes widen slightly, a glimmer of surprise mingling with something almost vulnerable—a flicker of raw emotion he rarely allows me to see.

“As if I could ever deny you,” he rasps, his voice rough with need.

It emboldens me, and I make quick work of undoing the buckle and moving to the button of his pants.

His cock responds immediately, hardening as it stirs to life.

I lick my lips as I pull his zipper down taking out his rigid shaft.

Like the rest of him, it is a sight to behold—long and thick.

I eagerly wrap both hands around it, giving it long, slow strokes.

Then, I lick a slow line along the underside of his cock, and I hear his sharp hiss of pleasure above me. Exhilarated, I take him into my mouth, letting him fill me until I can’t breathe through anything but the heat between us.

He’s a mouthful already, but I try my hardest to relax and take him deeper.

One of his hands threads through my hair while the other cradles my face. “You look so beautiful like this baby.”

Baby.

The combination of the praise and the endearment makes my toes curl. I moan, drawing him deeper, letting my throat stretch to take him.

He pulls out just enough for me to suck on his tip, swallowing the beads of precum that leak from his cock. Then, he pushes back in, nearly to the back, and I whimper around him.

“Does this feel okay, baby?” He asks. Looking up at him, I nod. “Do you want me to continue?” I nod again, moving my tongue to urge him on.

He groans, and his hand tightens in my hair. “I’m going to thrust now, baby. If it’s too much, just tap my leg and I’ll stop.” He pushes in and pulls back out again.

In response, I reach out to cup his heavy balls and lean in, taking him to the back of my throat and pushing through the burn.

As he begins fucking my mouth, the heat in my core intensifies. I’m soaking through my panties, every inch of me vibrating with need.

Nathaniel, who is always in control, looks anything but. His beautiful face is contorted in pleasure and I feel a deep satisfaction knowing that I am the one responsible. But just as he seems close to going over the edge, he uses his grip on my hair to drag my mouth off his cock.

Fighting the urge to whine at the sudden loss, I look at him with watery eyes. He groans at the sight. “Baby, if you don’t want me to cum in your mouth, you need to tell me now. Because when you wrap your pretty lips around my cock again, I won’t be able to stop.”

“Feed it to me,” I whisper, keeping my gaze on him as I lean forward and take him back in my mouth. I start to suck hard and moments later, ropes of his release hit the back of my throat in warm bursts.

Nathaniel’s hands tangle in my hair, tugging slightly in the most delicious way as his body jerks. I can’t take my eyes off his face. From down here, he looks like god looming over me—proud and perfect, yet falling apart, just for me .

“Fuck, baby, fuck,” he chants as I hollow my cheeks and swallow.

“Jesus, Olivia.” His dick twitches one last time, and then he pulls my head back until he slides out of my mouth. His hands leave my hair, and he reaches under my arms to gently pull me up.

“Thank you, baby.” Nathaniel presses my body against his, and I melt into his touch. “You were perfect.” Then, his lips are on mine, sucking down my panting breaths, his tongue tangling with mine, unbothered that the taste of him is still there.

His hands trail down my sides to the waistline of my pants.

I break the kiss and look into his eyes. “You don’t owe me anything, Nate. That was for you .”

“I know,” he replies as he spins me around. One arm goes around my rib cage, holding me against his body. “But how can I leave my girl wanting?”

He makes quick work of unbuttoning my jeans and slipping his hand inside my panties, where he finds me soaked. “Fuck, baby.” His lips press against the shell of my ear. “You’re dripping.”

I shudder as he strokes through my folds, circling my clit just enough to make my thighs tremble. “So wet for me. Is this all from sucking my cock?”

I nod helplessly, back arching into him. “Yes,” I whisper.

“That’s my girl.” His free hand cups my jaw and he strokes my bottom lip with his thumb before pressing inside.

“You were so good for me. But you must know…” His thumb drags down the center of my tongue, slow and possessive.

“These lips? They’re mine now. And they only touch me. Tell me you understand.”

His fingers keep teasing—circling, stroking—but never delivering the friction I crave. I whimper, grinding against his hand, but he tightens his hold, keeping me pinned in place.

He pops his thumb out of my mouth and drags my saliva along my lips. “Say it and I’ll give you what you need. ”

I’m panting now, thighs trembling from how close I am to the edge. “Please…” I beg.

The pressure on my clit stops completely, and the ache nearly undoes me.

“I understand,” I breathe, desperate now. “It’s yours. I’m all yours.”

His mouth crashes into mine in a kiss that steals the breath from my lungs. “That’s what I wanted to hear,” he growls, and plunges two fingers inside me.

I gasp into his mouth as he starts thrusting them deep, curling just right. His thumb finds my clit again, this time unrelenting. The pressure builds fast—white-hot and all-consuming. His lips move to my neck. It’s all too much.

“Come for me, baby,” he commands, pinching my clit between his fingers. “Don’t hold back.”

The coil inside me snaps. I cry out, body shuddering as wave after wave of pleasure crashes over me.

“That’s it,” he murmurs against my shoulder. “You’re so perfect, Olivia. You’re absolutely perfect for me.”

He says it with so much sincerity, I almost believe it too.

Later that night, the drive back is quiet, filled with a sense of contentment that settles over me like a blanket. The world outside the car seems distant, but right here, beside him, everything feels vivid and clear.