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I lean closer, my mouth a breath from hers. “I don’t believe you.”

My words hang heavy between us, but she doesn’t retreat. I don’t either. We stay in this space. In this moment.

In our bubble.

Her breath skates across my lips, her chest rising and falling in an uneven rhythm. Her sweet scent surrounds me, reminding me of all the nights I fell asleep comforted by it.

Her eyes briefly drop to my mouth before returning to mine. Every muscle in my body screams at me to close the distance. To yank her against me and remind her of exactly what she’ll miss if she walks out that door.

But I force myself to remain less than an inch away, waiting for whatever she decides.

And the longer we stay like this, the more unsure I am about what that might be.

Her gaze drops to my lips yet again, her fingers twitching, as if desperate to reach out and touch me. My pulse climbs, the rapid pounding echoing in my ears.

Then she fists my shirt and crashes her mouth against mine, the sudden movement knocking the air from my lungs. For one stunned moment, I don’t move. I can’t. My brain can’t catch up with the fact that Wynter’s kissing me.

It’s what I wanted. What I’ve missed since she pushed me away. I just didn’t think I’d ever feel her mouth on mine again.

When her tongue slides against mine, everything I’ve spent the past few days trying to forget returns full force, and I kiss her back.

Hard.

I sink my fingers into her hair, kissing her as if it’s the only thing keeping me alive. Right now, that’s what it feels like.

Her fingers twist tighter in my shirt as she pulls me closer, a tiny moan slipping from her throat.

God, I’ve missed this. Missed her. The softness of her lips. The warmth of her body pressed against mine. The way she fits against me.

There is no Wyatt. No past. No expectations. Only Wynter and me in our bubble once more.

I tilt my head and deepen the kiss, backing her against the door. I circle my hips against her, lost to the sensation. The moment. The connection.

Until she flattens her hands on my chest and shoves me back.

Stumbling, I take a moment to collect myself, our heavy breaths filling the space. I eventually lift my eyes to hers, her lips swollen from our kiss.

“That…,” she begins, wiping her mouth, as if trying to erase the memory of my lips on hers mere seconds ago. “That shouldn’t have happened.”

“Wynter…”

She squeezes her eyes shut and shakes her head. “I just… I can’t.”

I stare at her, searching my brain for something else to say or do to convince her otherwise. But I’m not sure there is anything.

I’ve given her everything.

My heart. My truth. My love.

And it’s still not enough.

“Okay.”

Her eyes fly back to mine. “Okay?”

“Yeah.”

A part of me can’t believe I’m doing this. That I’m essentially giving up.