Nathan’s lips crushed onto mine with desperate hunger, like he was trying to erase every second we’d been apart. His hands were rough and eager, gripping my waist, pulling me closer until I could feel the wild beating of his heart against my own. The heat of his skin seared through me, igniting something fierce and aching I hadn’t dared to name.
I trembled beneath him, every nerve ending on fire. His mouth moved down my jaw, teeth grazing my skin, leaving a trail of sharp, burning kisses. My breath caught as his fingers slipped beneath my shirt, skin meeting skin with a tenderness that broke me open and rebuilt me at once.
“Bella…” His voice was low, rough with pain and need. “I thought I lost you. I thought… I wasn’t enough to keep you safe.”
I couldn’t speak. I could only press my han
