But worried that the spell we were under might break if I said anything, I kept quiet. Instead, I just shifted closer.
Close enough that my knees brushed his under the covers.
Close enough that our breaths mingled.
His other hand came up slowly, his knuckles brushing along my cheek like he was making sure I was really there.
Like he needed to reassure himself I was real.
My throat tightened at the thought, because I understood why he might need that.
Because he’d probably had too many nights over the pasttwo years where he’d slipped back in time, and for a few fleeting moments, he hadn’t been alone. He’d been able to go back to a time when his late wife was still beside him. Where the accident hadn’t happened.
Where the life he thought he’d have for decades hadn’t been taken from him in an instant.
He’d been back in the safety and security of having a chance to raise his sweet daughter with the woman who had given birth to her, only to wake up and feel the emptiness all over again.
Theo shifted even closer. But he didn’t close the distance completely.
He was leaving that choice to me. Because at the end of the day, Theo was still a gentleman.
“I really want to kiss you,” he murmured, his voice low. “I’m just trying to do this right. With you.”
Warmth and ache mixed together in my chest tightened. Because of coursethatwould be his worry. Not himself. Not his ego.
But me.
“I don’t think you can do it wrong,” I whispered. “But we can take it slow, if that helps.”
“Okay…” he breathed, his gaze holding mine, steady and intent—like he was committing my face and everything about this moment to memory.
Then his hand came up slowly, his knuckles brushing my cheek first before his palm settled there, warm and firm in a way that made my stomach flip.
He paused again, his eyes searching mine.
Still checking.
Still making sure.
I didn’t say anything. I just leaned into his hand.
And then, just a few jittery heartbeats later, Theo leaned ineven further, closing the last inch of space between us to kiss me.
His lips were soft.
Careful.
Like he was relearning something he’d forgotten he was allowed to want.
And even though it was one of the gentlest kisses I’d ever had, it hit me hard anyway.
Heat rushed through me so fast it felt like my body had been waiting for that exact touch, like everything in me had just snapped awake.
I kissed him back.
Slow at first, matching him, letting him choose the pace, letting him feel that I was right here and not going anywhere.
His breath shuddered against my lips.