I moved my hand to his cheek, leaning in to touch my head to his.
“Never again.” It was a whispered promise. “You’re mine, B. No matter what anyone says.”
“Nix?” I pulled back slightly to look at him, to make sure I understood.
The corner of his mouth tipped up, sending my heart into overdrive. “There she is,” he said. “My girl.”
Yours? I wanted to scream. But I didn’t need to.
He pulled my face down to his, fitting his mouth to mine. Slow, hesitant. Testing the waters. I slipped my hand around his neck, anchoring us together.
Nix paused the kiss to breathe against my lips, “We do this, and there’s no going back. I’ll never let anything come in between us again. Not even your father.” Fierce determination shone in his eyes, echoing the resilience of my heart.
“No going back,” I whispered.
Then I kissed him.
The second our lips touched, a heavy weight lifted from my shoulders. Tears spilled down my cheeks as our tongues tangled together, soft uncertain licks. But it barely took the edge off the tension radiating through me. I pressed closer, deepening the kiss. Tracing the seam of his lips, tasting him. Savoring him.
My hand found Nix’s and lifted it to the hem of my t-shirt. But his body went taut.
“B…”
“Please, I need this… I need you.”
I’d never needed anything more.
He pulled away, gazing at me with pure lust. “That’s not how this is going to go, not after everything that’s happened.”
“Nix, I—”
“No, B. If we’re doing this… and we are doing it; we’re going to do it right. Starting by going out there and reassuring our friends that you’re okay.”
Dejection clung to every inch of me, twisting my insides. I dropped my gaze, trying to get a handle on the tumultuous emotions coursing through me.
“What’s wrong?” Nix gripped my chin gently and forced me to look at him. I pressed my lips together, refusing to answer him. “Let me make one thing clear, Birdie. I want you. I have wanted you for as long as I can remember. But things between us have always been complicated…” He let out a small sigh. “It’s important to me we get them right this time, because I have no intention of giving you up.”
Nix dropped a kiss on my forehead. “Now stop sulking and let’s go make sure Miller is in one piece.”
“I thought you hated Nate?”
“Oh, I do. But he’s been there for you when I couldn’t be. So I owe him.” Nix got up, tugging me alongside him. His arms slipped around me and he gazed down at me. “I promise not to hurt him so long as he promises not to go after what’s mine.”
“It isn’t like that between us.”
“Let’s hope he knows that.”
I swatted Nix’s chest, but he snagged my wrist, yanking me forward so I tumbled into him.
“You’re mine, Harleigh Wren Maguire,” he whispered against my ear, the words filling the cracks inside me. “Then. Now. Forever.”
Just as Celeste said, we found everyone in the kitchen. Nate’s eyes immediately went to my hand, the one currently clasped in Nix’s. But I found no jealousy in his eyes, only gentle understanding.
“I see you two sorted out your differences,” he said.
“Watch it, Miller,” Nix drawled. “I haven’t decided if I like you or not yet.”
Zane snorted at that, his hard gaze sliding to mine. “Sorry, B, about before, at the fair.” His expression softened slightly, and I knew we needed to talk. But I wasn’t ready to face the firing line, not yet. So a small nod was my only answer.