Page 58 of Tangled Hearts

I don’t fucking get anything. “See what?”

He drops his hands and steps away from me. He doesn’t even look at me as he turns and walks out of the living room. I stand in stunned silence. Fuck this fuck thisfuck this.

I chase after him, grabbing him by the back of the shirt and yanking him backward. “Stop fucking running from me. Answer me, dammit. Fucking answer me!”

He turns around so quickly I lose my grip on him and stumble. “Everything, Eli!” he bellows, voice rough and sharp. He closes his eyes, so much naked pain reflected on his face that I almost can’tbreathe. When he opens them again, he looks defeated. Lost. “They’re going to see everything.”

A whispered confession. A heartbreak. His and mine. I gape at him in silence for a second. Finally, I whisper, “What’s everything?”

He deflates. Like someone cut the strings holding him up. “You, Eli,” he whispers, pained and low. “You’reeverything.”

The words hit me in the chest like an explosion.

He turns again. To walk away. To leave me standing here.

You, Eli. You’re everything.

I don’t even think. I grab him once again, shoving him against the wall so hard it echoes through the hallway. He stares at me with wide eyes. My heart’s beating hard against my ribs, my hands shaking where they’re gripping his shirt.

I rise on my tiptoes, tightening my grip on his shirt, and slam my mouth onto his.

A feral sound rips from his throat a split second before he fists his hands in my hair and drags me to him. It’s raw and carnal and messy. It feels so fucking good I might actually die.

We kiss like we’re starving. Nic groans into the kiss, tightening his grip to the point of almost pain. He stumbles forward, his hands leaving my hair. They’re everywhere. On my throat, my shoulders, sliding under my shirt, gripping my hips, and shoving me backward untilI’mthe one against the wall.

It’s overwhelming.

Too much.

Not enough.

I need more.

I slide a hand under his shirt, desperate to feel his skin. To know he’s real, and he’s here, and this is actually happening. He draws in a breath, and just as quickly as our kiss started, it ends. He pulls away,taking a quick step back, and I try to chase him. “We can’t, Eli,” he says, voice ragged and raspy and fucking ruined.

“We can,” I insist. “We really can. Please.”

Nic stares at me. I have no idea what he sees, but I feel unhinged, so it’s probably just want. Raw fucking want. That’s all I seem to be. His fingers twitch at his sides. Indecision wars on his face.

“Fuck, little doll,” he rasps, taking a step away from me like he’s going to run again. He drags his hands through his hair, tugging on the unruly strands. I fucking hate this. Why won’t he just take me? I want him. And he wants me. Why is he trying to pretend he doesn’t? He reaches for me, gripping my hips with bruising force, pulling me toward him.

“Kiss me, dammit,” I whisper, wanting, wanting, wanting.

He groans, closing his eyes. His chest rises and falls harshly. His fingers flex against my hips. “Fuck it,” he says under his breath, then he’s dragging me to him and pressing his lips to mine.

It’s slower this time. He works a hand under my shirt, fingers delicately dancing up my sides, thumb brushing over my nipple. My body bucks, my cock throbs. I can’t even be embarrassed. He breaks the kiss, his breathing ragged. “Mine,” he whispers against my lips.

I let my head fall against the wall, completely overwhelmed and wrung out. “Yes. Yours.”

He groans, pressing his forehead to mine. “This has bad idea written all over it, Eli.” My stomach sinks. “But I can’t stop. I can’t fight it. I can’t. I just can’t. And worse? I don’t even fucking want to.” He seals his lips over mine again, kissing me before pulling back with another groan. “Knew it would be like this,” he mumbles, shaking his head. “Knew it would never be enough if I allowed myself to cross the line.”

My stomach swoops as he bites my bottom lip and brushes his fingers over my skin. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

“Yes,” I whisper, my heart in my throat. “So sure. Please stop pulling away from me. It hurts. I don’t want to beg, Nic. Please don’t make me beg.”

My eyes burn, so I squeeze them closed. “In my bed, little doll. Now. Go.”

I’m moving before he even finishes his sentence. I’m nervous, but excited and terrified and so fucking relieved.