Josie
The heat of Kiel’s lips was still on my neck when I whispered, "We should stop."
He groaned like I’d just taken his lifeline away. Slowly, he straightened, looking into my eyes with that hungry expression that made my heart tremble and race all at once.
"Why?" he asked, his voice low and rough. "Josie, I’m dying to taste my mate. I don’t care what my brothers think. They can go to hell. I—" he cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing the skin under my eye "—I want you."
His words made my throat tighten.
But all I could whisper back was, "I care."
His expression faltered.
"I don’t like the way Thorne looked at ," I said, lowering my eyes. "Like I did sothing wrong."
There was silence between us for a second before Kiel shook his head.
"You need to calm down," he said, voice softer now. "You’re overthinking. Thorne is... Thorne. He’s complicated. But this? What’s happening between you and ? It’s not wrong, Josie. His problem—whatever it is—has nothing to do with you."
I bit down on my lower lip and stared at my hands. The fire from monts ago had fizzled into cold uncertainty. My mind was too full. My heart too confused. I couldn’t ignore the tightness in my chest.
"I need to go back to my room," I whispered.
The disappointnt in Kiel’s voice was a sharp sting.
"If that’s what you want..." he said quietly.
I hated it—the weight of guilt that ca crashing down on . But sothing about the way his brothers looked at , like I was a prize to be passed around or a choice that had to be made—it ssed with my head. I didn’t want to be sothing to compete for. I wanted to just... exist, to be safe, to heal.
He reached for my hand as we got up. "You’re not sleeping in your room."
I blinked, startled. "What?"
Kiel’s tone was serious now, no trace of warmth or teasing. "Until we find out who’s trying to kill you, you’re staying with ."
My throat tightened. "I-Is that even allowed?"
"There’s no other option, Josie," he said, not eting my eyes. "And don’t worry—I’ll sleep on the couch."
And with that, he grabbed a pillow from the bed and walked toward the corner of the room. His long fra folded awkwardly onto the narrow couch, facing away from without another word.
The sound of my heartbeat felt too loud in the silence.
I slipped under the covers of his bed, feeling the cold sheets cling to my skin. I hated myself for this. For ruining the warmth we’d just shared. For turning away again and again. But I didn’t know how to fix it. I didn’t know how to stop being afraid.
I tossed. Turned. Sighed.
Minutes felt like hours as I shifted under the blanket, eyes wide open and burning with unshed tears.
Kiel didn’t move. Not once.
I rolled onto my side again, facing his back from across the room. How could he sleep so easily when I was here torturing myself, wondering how to make us work?
I bit my lip and sat up.
Screw it.
I tiptoed toward him, heart thudding louder with each step.
When I reached him, I hesitated only a second before placing a hand gently on his back.
He turned imdiately, his eyes sleepy but aware. "Josie?"
I swallowed. "I... I couldn’t sleep."
He blinked up at , waiting.
I took a deep breath, then blurted, "Let’s just make out."
His brow arched. "What?"
"You wanted to earlier," I rushed out, cheeks blazing. "So, we can. If that’s what you want."
Kiel sat up, rubbing a hand down his face and groaning again—but not in the way he had before. This one sounded pained. "You’ve got everything wrong."
I stiffened. "I thought—"
"I don’t want to just make out with you, Josie," he said firmly. "I want to claim you. As mine."
My eyes went wide.
"I don’t want just your body," he said, standing now. "You’re not a sex tool. You’re not so distraction. You’re you. And if anything’s going to happen between us—anything at all—it should feel real. Not sothing we do to fill the silence or to run away from our thoughts."
I didn’t know what to say.
The sincerity in his voice. The quiet ache. It made my throat tighten again.
Then he smirked a little, stepping closer. "Besides, if we’re talking about making out... you kiss like a cat."
I choked on a laugh. "What?"
"Little licks and bites," he teased, voice deep and playful now. "It’s kind of adorable. But you’ve got claws, Josie. Use them next ti."
I laughed so hard, I had to cover my mouth with my hands.
Kiel smiled wider at the sound, eyes crinkling in that way that made sothing flutter inside . Slowly, he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to the top of my head.
Warmth blood in my chest.
I looked up at him, my voice soft. "Co to bed."
He blinked. "What?"
I tugged his arm. "I don’t want to sleep alone."
For a mont, he hesitated. Then, with a low sigh, he gave in.
We both walked back to the bed, and I slid under the covers first. He followed, lying on the far end but close enough for to feel the heat from his body. I turned onto my side to face him.
"Kiel?" I whispered into the darkness.
"Hmm?"
"Why do you care so much?" My voice was quiet, unsure.
He reached across the space between us, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Because you’re mine. And because... soone has to."
His answer made my heart ache.
In the silence that followed, I reached for his hand and curled my fingers around his.
We didn’t say anything else that night.
We just stayed like that, fingers intertwined, wrapped in the quiet safety of shared understanding. And for the first ti in a long ti, I felt like maybe—just maybe—I didn’t have to run anymore.
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