Then, he shifts just enough to look at me, his palm cupping the side of my face, his thumb brushing along my cheekbone.
I expect him to smirk, to tease, to say something else cocky.
He doesn’t.
He justwatches mewith those soulful green eyes.
Like heknew, like healways knew, but having me here,like this, still knocks the breath from his lungs.I know the feeling.
His fingers skate down my side, tracing the curve of my waist, the dip of my hip.
“You okay?”he whispers.There’s a hint of insecurity there, and I know I put that there.But I also know I’ll be the one to remove it.
I don’t even realize I’m smiling until I hear my own voice.“Morethan okay.”
His exhale is shaky, like he’s been holding something in for too damn long.“Good.”
And then, finally, he pulls me against his chest, pressing a lingering kiss to my temple.
By the time we fall apart, by the time we’re nothing but tangled limbs and desperate, uneven breaths, I know—I know.
There’s no running from this.
No undoing it.
No pretending I don’t want everything he’s offering.
Joel shifts beside me, pulling me against his chest, his lips brushing my temple, his fingers tracing lazy patterns over my spine.
“Okay,” I whisper into his neck as I plant more kisses there.
His whole body stills.
Then—slowly, deliberately—he turns his head, tipping my chin up so I have to look him in the eye.
There’s something wild in his expression.Something wrecked and whole at the same time.Like he’s still bracing for me to change my mind or maybe he’s terrified of believing it.
His fingers tighten at my waist, his voice barely a breath.
“Okay?”His voice is quiet, rough at the edges.
I nod, pressing a kiss to his chin, letting myself believe it.“I’ll go with you.”
He exhales sharply, like the words knock something loose inside him.His hands slide up my spine, cradling me close.
And then, he whispers, “Say it again.”
His chest rises sharply.
And I realize—this is the moment he’s been waiting for.Not the sex.Not the tour.Not the second chance.
This.
Me staying.
Mechoosing him.
Maybe because he never thought I would.Not after everything.Maybe he didn’t think he’d ever deserve it.