Chapter 4
1626 Words
Theo’s POV:
I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry as I exhaled a quiet, unsteady breath.
Right… that topic.
I knew we’d have to face it eventually, but I didn’t think it would come up this soon.
Honestly, so much had happened in the last twenty-four hours that I hadn’t expected.
But despite everything, Aurora wanted to dive straight into this.
I studied her face, hoping to catch even a glimpse of what she might be feeling, but all I found was uncertainty.
Yes, I kissed her — but she kissed me back.
And that one moment could have meant a hundred different things.
I slipped my too-warm hands into my pockets before finally speaking.
“I did,” I answered carefully, still trying to understand where her head was.
This was a conversation I’d only rehearsed in my imagination, never actually believing it would happen, let alone after I kissed her for real.
And now that I had this one chance, I didn’t want to ruin it.
“Why?” she asked, her voice small… defeated, even.
Her tone made my eyebrows lift.
She genuinely couldn’t understand why I’d done it.
I wondered what thoughts had been spiraling in her mind since that night — what impossible scenarios she’d imagined about us.
Whether the thought that I cared for her far more deeply than she could imagine had ever crossed her mind.
I sighed, taking a small step toward her. This needed honesty.
I rubbed the back of my neck.
“Would you believe me if I told you that I fell for you?” I said, a nervous laugh escaping me at the end.
Aurora froze — completely — though I could practically feel her heartbeat speed up.
Her expression of stunned disbelief didn’t shift for several long, nerve-wracking seconds.
My stomach twisted tighter with each moment of silence, making me feel like I needed to spill every feeling I’d ever had for her right here and now… even if I didn’t know where to begin.
“W-What?” she finally breathed.
There was no disgust in her voice. No rejection. Just shock.
Like she couldn’t process the words.
I couldn’t blame her. Even to me, this entire situation seemed unreal.
“Aurora,” I said, resisting the urge to move closer even though every part of me wanted to, “I can’t tell you exactly when it happened or how it happened… but I fell for you.”
I looked away, the words almost too big to hold.
“I kept quiet because I knew it wasn’t… normal. A vampire falling for a human? It sounded wrong. So I convinced myself that if I didn’t talk about it, it would fade. But it didn’t. I just kept getting more and more drawn to you. Everything about you.”
The words kept coming — honest, unfiltered.
“I kept falling deeper without even trying to stop. I started imagining a future where you were in my life. Trying to find ways for you to stay. To always stay.”
I paused as I felt the pressure in my chest, her posture softening just a little.
“The thought of losing you… it made me feel out of my mind. If you were upset or hurting, it made me furious. And the only thing that calmed any of it was hearing you laugh or seeing you smile.”
A faint laugh escaped me. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you even when I wanted to.”
I swallowed and steadied my voice.
“So when you told me you’d begun seeing me as something other than your Master — and saw yourself as more than a pet — and then said how ridiculous it was…” I shook my head lightly. “I felt the exact same way. And that kiss was the only way I could express it.”
I remembered the way she softened, the way she held on to me just a little longer than she had to, the way her touch lingered after.
All good signs… but they could’ve been impulsive, too.
I watched her stare down at the sheets, clearly thinking through every word I’d said.
That was when I realized how terrified I was — of her response, of losing this, of losing her.
She shifted slightly, her legs dangling over the side of the bed as her fingers fidgeted nervously.
“S-So,” she murmured, clearing her throat, “you would… do it again?”
My heart lurched.
I hadn’t expected that. Not even close.
But it sent a strange, warm relief rushing through me. Almost excitement.
I stepped closer without thinking.
“Without a doubt, Aurora. But if I did it again… I don’t know if I’d be able to stop so easily.”
The honesty surprised her — her hands curling and uncurling, her breath catching, her cheeks warming.
She was nervous too.
“I-I’m okay with that,” she whispered, immediately shrinking back from her own boldness.
It stunned me — but in the best way.
I moved toward her until our legs gently brushed.
She faced me right away, her eyes full of anticipation despite the nerves fluttering in her chest.
I lifted my hands to tuck her hair out of her face, noticing the tiny hitch in her breath and the brief flicker of her gaze toward my mouth.
She didn’t look away as I leaned in, my face hovering just above hers.
Then she reached up, placing her hands behind my neck, guiding me closer.
I rested my hands lightly at her waist, leaning in until I could feel her breath on my skin.
I pressed a soft kiss to her lips — gentle, careful — and felt her exhale in relief.
Emotion rose in me so powerfully that I had to pace myself.
I wanted to let everything rush out all at once.
But not too fast. Not before she was ready.
Not while she was still healing.
She slid her hands down slightly, catching the fabric of my shirt and pulling me nearer — and everything inside me responded.
I deepened the kiss carefully, fully aware of each breath she took, each tremble of nerves mixed with longing.
I supported her as she leaned back a little, keeping us close but steady, my focus entirely on making sure she felt safe and wanted.
Eventually, I pulled back, both of us breathless, our foreheads nearly touching.
Aurora’s eyes were wide, her breathing uneven, her hands still gripping mine like she didn’t want to let go.
We stayed like that for several quiet moments — close, steady, letting the moment settle.
I lowered my head, resting it gently near her shoulder, drawn to her presence in every way.
“I want you,” I said softly, the confession heavy with emotion. “I want mornings with you. Days with you. A life where you get to choose what makes you happy. I want to learn every little thing that makes you smile.”
I tightened my hold just slightly.
“I want you.”
Even that didn’t feel like enough to explain what I felt.
“But,” I said, lifting my head again, helping her sit upright with me, “if you don’t want this… or if it makes you uncomfortable…” My voice wavered. “Then I’ll let it go. We can forget all of this.”
I started to rise —
But she grabbed my wrists instantly.
“No!” she blurted out, eyes wide.
She seemed startled by her own reaction, staring at her hands before slowly letting her grip loosen.
“Theo,” she breathed, “I’ve had feelings for you for a long time. I just kept burying them because I thought there was no way you’d ever feel this way about me.”
She gave a nervous laugh. “Even after you kissed me, I doubted it. It felt impossible. It still feels impossible. But it also feels right.”
My heart nearly burst.
“I want to be with you,” she continued. “Everything you said… I want it too. But—” Her brows pulled together.
“But what?” I asked, nerves spiking again.
“But you’re a vampire,” she said quietly. “And I’m human.”
“And?” I asked.
She stared at me like I wasn’t understanding.
“And that means… no matter what happens… I could still be taken away when—”
I pulled her close gently, cutting off the fear in her voice.
“I’m working on that,” I said firmly. “Please don’t let that be the thing that stops you. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
She studied my face, searching for any hesitation.
“You’re really willing to do all of this for me?” she asked softly.
I smiled. “All of this — and more.”
She bit her bottom lip, trying not to smile too widely, but failing.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” she whispered, happiness slipping into her words.
I laughed quietly, brushing a hand through her hair.
“Aurora… let me make you happy. Let me care for you the way you deserve. Let me show you what love can look like for you. Let me give you the life you want.”
My voice softened. “Will you let me?”
Her cheeks warmed again as she reached for my hand, intertwining our fingers and leaning into me completely.
“Only if you let me do the same,” she said.
My smile widened as I pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
“Gladly.”
- Writer
