Page 14

My pulse pummels my ears, eclipsing the roar of the rain battering the windows with renewed vigor.

My breathing grows thready, and every atom inside me vibrates to attention.

Open your eyes, Lexy.

Smile. Say hi.

Should I hug him?

Should I shake his hand?

What’s the protocol of meeting your pen pal boyfriend for the first time?

My palms grow sweaty and I rake in a few more unsteady breaths.

Quiet but steady footsteps head toward me.

They sound strong. Confident.

They sound hot, if footsteps can sound hot.

A whiff of masculine fragrance sifts to my nostrils.

I inhale, letting the scent wash through me.

I recognize this fragrance from somewhere.

Leather. Amber. A tinge of the rain and outdoors.

“Nova?” A low rasp. Seduction in one word.

“Dreamer?”

He came.

Despite the violent storm, he still came.

Warmth spreads from my rib cage to the rest of my body and I smile.

I’ll remember this moment forever.

My muscles finally obey my mind, and I open my eyes.

The emergency light blinking from far away illuminates him.

Just barely. Brief flickers of yellow light.

On and off. On and off.

A beacon in the dark.

Shining on him—my north star.

Delaney’s face is bathed in shadows, but those piercing eyes, that sharp jawline, that thick, wavy hair .

I gasp. I recognize him.

He’s Ares, the god of war, the guy I’ve bumped into twice here in Ravenswood before.

The first time over a year ago, when he picked up my books after I dropped them outside the library, the second time in the basement DVD section when I was tempted to break the rules and search for Keeper.

It’s been him all along.

The guy who’s made me feel something in our two fleeting encounters is the man who’s stolen my heart with his words and kindness.

“Delaney?” I finally find my voice.

His eyes darken, and a breathtaking smile lights up his face.

An enticing dimple winks at me.

“It’s you. I knew I’d recognize you.”

He steps closer, shrinking our distance by the second, and my heart careens, like the slow clanking ascent of a rollercoaster before the free fall.

We stare at each other, our chests heaving—the moment distilling into snapshots, fragments I’m sure I’ll never forget.

Him standing there, tall, his dark hair slightly damp.

His muscles strain against the dark T-shirt and leather jacket he has on.

His glittering eyes hold mine and I’m speechless, but I feel like I can hear his words all the same.

After a few seconds of the quiet tension, Delaney finally opens his mouth, his raspy voice holding me captive.

“I knew you’d be beautiful.”

With that statement, he wraps his large hand around my wrist, tugs me against him, and crushes his lips to mine.

My world explodes into a kaleidoscope of colors, the pleasure shooting straight from my lips to the rest of my body.

It feels right…so right, like I was born to kiss him.

Delaney deepens the kiss.

His lips move from gentle caresses into drugging pulls, his hand traveling up to my nape to angle my head so he can delve in harder.

Invading, he conquers my nonexistent defenses.

A groan rumbles from his throat when I melt against him, plastering my curves against his hard muscles.

His free hand coils around my waist before he pushes my body flat against the shelves.

“Fuck,” he whispers when we part for air, but before I can respond, he dives back in, his arms caging me as he ravages me.

I moan, the sound needy, but I don’t care.

My head arches back, digging into the tomes of love stories, as he slides his tongue into my mouth and tastes me like I’m his salvation, like he’s been waiting for this moment his entire life.

My fingers dig into his muscular back, my nails no doubt causing pain, but that only seems to inflame him more.

He slides his thigh between my legs and presses up so his muscles rub against my core.

“Sweet. You taste so sweet, just like I knew you’d be,” he rasps, his lips traveling to my cheeks, kissing, sucking, whispering poetry to my skin.

“Do you know how long I’ve waited for this kiss, Nova? How many nights I’ve lain awake in bed, wanting to hold you in my arms, but I can’t?”

“Me too,” I whisper, my eyes meeting his in the dark, only seeing the glint in what I know are the most beautiful charcoal eyes.

His breathing is ragged as he pulls back slightly, like he wants to take me in, to memorize every inch of me.

A faint smile curves on his lips and he whispers, “Nova. Because you’re a supernova. Rare. Beautiful. Unforgettable.”

My breath hitches.

Unforgettable. I want to bask in his attentions forever.

He drags a fingertip down the bridge of my nose, featherlight, leaving a trail of warmth behind.

It’s love and reverence encapsulated in a small caress.

Leaning in, he holds me tightly in his arms. I feel his fluttering heartbeats beating against his thin shirt and the unmistakable hardness resting against my stomach.

Knowing he’s turned on has me clenching my legs, the motion he feels because his thigh is still sandwiched between mine .

Delaney’s breath quickens, and the tension thickens in the small sliver of space between us.

My skin is so sensitive, I can practically feel the individual fibers of the cotton shirt I have on.

My breasts are heavy…

swollen, and he hasn’t even touched me there.

I light up in his presence.

“Before I fall asleep at night, I think of you. I imagine you next to me.” He punctuates his words with a soft kiss on my forehead.

“But I don’t know what you look like.” A kiss on my cheek.

“I don’t know the color of your eyes, the smell of your hair, the softness of your skin. It’s been driving me out of my mind.” He swipes his tongue on my earlobe.

I whimper, and wetness seeps out between my legs.

I’m dying from his gentle touches and words.

“But I knew you’d be beautiful. And I don’t just mean physically, though you’re the most gorgeous person I’ve seen. I mean here.” He presses his hand over my frantic heart.

“Because I’d already fallen for what was inside you.”

Delaney cups my face, which I realize is wet with tears.

His thumbs gently swipe the moisture away.

I’ve never had anyone treat me this way before—holding me like I’m precious, priceless, like I’m everything he needs in the world.

He rasps, “The last year and a half was torture. And I’d live through it again and again, if it meant I get to be trapped in this storm with you.”

My poet.

My keeper.

“Delaney.”

I touch his face, the dim light guiding me, feeling the fullness of his brows, the crinkle at the edge of his eyes, the tall and straight nose, the perfect full lips, and the small divot on his chin.

“And to finally answer your question,” he rasps, “if a rock smacked you on the head and you lost your memories, I’d do everything in my power to make you remember. Even if that meant recreating our love story, reminding you with every touch, every word. Because there’d be no way I’d let you slip away. No way. ”

When I asked the what-if question back then, it was meant as a joke.

To bring a smile to his face when he was stressed at work.

But now, it’s so much more.

It feels like a vow.

I swallow and whisper, “That answer is definitely worth waiting for.”

He grins and cups my cheek.

Before I met him, I thought he’d be disappointed when he saw me.

Maybe he’d think the idea of me was unforgettable, but the reality fell short.

I was stupid. Ridiculous.

Nothing had ever felt so right than here in his embrace.

A snap and crackle later, light floods the room as the hum of the generator joins the sounds of our heavy breathing.

I wince, adjusting to the sudden brightness as we take in each other clearly for the first time.

I feel shy under his intense perusal.

His eyes hungrily rove over my face and he lifts a lock of my hair to his nose and inhales.

“Now I know how your hair smells like. Lavender, just like our journal.” He smiles.

“I remember you from before… You were breaking the rules that day with The Notebook , weren’t you?”

I duck my head, my face flaming.

But my heart flutters with joy.

He remembers me too.

He tsks under his breath and tilts my chin up so our eyes meet again.

“Desperate to meet me, weren’t you?” He winks, and my breath stumbles all over itself again.

I find my voice a second later and arch my brow.

“You know, that’s not the first time we met.”

His eyes flare before recognition flickers in them.

“Outside the library. You were the girl with the finance textbook. The one I couldn’t take my eyes off.”

Unable to help myself, I rise to my tiptoes and peck him on his cheek to reward him for his excellent memory.

“Bingo,” I whisper .

“I guess it’s always been fated—us meeting.” Delaney twines his fingers with mine, the gentle touch reawakening my nerves and my skin heats.

Shifting, he pulls out a small box from his pocket and hands it to me.

“I took a risk—I don’t know if you even wear earrings, but I saw these the other day and—”

I gasp as I dangle a pair of delicate hummingbird earrings in the air.

The artist’s light strokes for the wings, the brilliant red chest—they’re obviously handcrafted, no brand name to be seen.

They’re perfect.

“I love them.” I put them on, and my eyes mist with tears.

“They’re absolutely perfect, Delaney.”

“I’m so glad.” He presses a kiss on my forehead.

Then, I feel a tension stiffening his muscles.

“I want to tell you something,” he begins, and a flicker of uncertainty flashes in his eyes.

“Delaney is my middle name. My first name is actually—”

His phone rings, the ring tone shrill on the quiet floor.

“Sorry.” Quickly, he pulls out his phone, glances at the screen and frowns.

His eyes flicker up to mine.

“I think it’s an emergency. Do you mind?”

I shake my head, my brows furrowing.

I hope everything is okay.

Then my phone buzzes.

I guess I got cell reception back too.

Delaney steps to the end of the aisle, his low voice in what appears to be an important conversation.

I glance at my phone, finding a dozen unread messages littering the screen.

Liam

Firefly, I tried calling you.

Why haven’t you turned on your phone?

Liam

Are you stuck in the storm?

Damn it. I see your location.

I’ll come get you.

Liam

Grandma fell down the stairs.

She’s being airlifted to Manhattan Memorial now.

They have better facilities than the Hamptons.

Liam

You know what?

You’re at Ravenswood, and Ethan is heading there to run an errand.

I’ll just have him pick you up.

I’ll give him your number.

Liam

Call me when you get this.

Stay safe.

A cold front knots my insides.

Is Grandma okay? A fall at her age can be dangerous.

She’s a Vaughn. I breathe in, trying to stem the rising panic.

We have money. We have the best resources.

She’ll be fine. She has to be.

Delaney clears his throat and I see he’s done with his call.

He rakes his fingers through his hair, frustration rolling from him in waves.

“Nova, can we meet again tomorrow? There’s an emergency I need to take care of. May I have your phone?”

He walks to me and lays out his palm.

I hand my cell to him and he inputs his number and calls himself.

“Let me drop you off and I’ll call you tonight and explain everything?”

Wordlessly, I nod.

“Is everything okay?”

“I hope so. I’m worried, but my best friend needs me right now. He has a family emergency.”

The hairs rise on the back of my neck, and an unsettling weight settles in my gut.

Bad news back to back and a crazy storm outside.

What on earth is happening?

“I need to make another quick call, okay?”

“Sure. Do what you need to do. We have all the time in the world.” I reach out and squeeze his forearm .

He pauses his dialing, the furrow between his brows disappearing as he clasps his larger hand on top of mine.

Then, he grazes his finger on my nose again.

Those beautiful lips slowly curve up in a grin.

My heart skips several beats.

“Thanks,” he whispers.

“Despite what just happened, today is the happiest day of my life.”

I beam and watch his smile widen, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

“Me too. Go. Do your thing.”

He nods and dials his number before lifting his phone to his ear.

He twines his hand with mine.

A few seconds later, my phone buzzes again.

Frowning, I answer the call.

“Hello?”

Delaney freezes, his shoulders rigid.

He whips his head toward me, eyes widening in what looks to be alarm.

“May I speak to Alexis Vaughn please?” I hear his voice through my phone.

It doesn’t make sense.

He’s right in front of me and taking care of an emergency for his best friend.

Emergency for his best friend.

The gears shift into place, and I see the exact moment when he reaches the same conclusion.

Slowly, he ends the call.

I hear the click on my end and do the same.

“Liam Vaughn is your brother?” he asks, his face paling.

My pulse riots in my ears.

“You’re Ethan? His best friend?”

Delaney—no, Ethan—nods.

He swallows, steps back, and lets go of my hand.