Page 47 of Worth the Fall

Mia stirs slightly, lifting her head to look at me, her eyes hazy with sleep and something deeper. "You love me?" she whispers, her voice rough and low.

"I do," I say without hesitation, my hand pausing on her back as I meet her gaze. "And I think Felicity does, too."

Her lips part slightly, and her smile blooms slowly, her eyes glistening. She shifts, propping herself up on one arm so she can look at me more clearly.

"I love you, too," she says, her voice steady despite the emotion thickening it. "And I’m not scared to be with you, Miguel. Not anymore."

Hearing her say it feels like the final piece clicking into place, and I know I need to say everything I’ve been holding back.

I reach up, cupping her cheek with my hand, my thumb brushing gently along her jawline. "Mia," I begin, my voice low, "I know this is fast. Faster than we planned. We said we’d take things slow, that we’d be careful."

She nods, her eyes never leaving mine.

"I know it’s a risk," I continue, my other hand sliding to her waist. "We’re both coming out of long-term relationships. Hell, we’re each other’s rebounds. That’s what people would call this." I pause, letting the weight of my words hang between us.

She opens her mouth to respond, but I gently press a finger to her lips. "Let me finish," I say, smiling softly.

She closes her mouth, waiting.

"I don’t care what people would call it. I don’t care if this is risky, if it’s messy, or if it’s not what anyone else would call smart. I’ve spent the last few years playing it safe, putting my walls up, and waiting for the right time to try again. But being with you? It feels right. It feels like something I’ve been waiting for, even if I didn’t know it."

Her lips part again, her breath hitching, but I keep going.

"I’m ready to fall, Mia. Even if it’s scary, even if it’s fast. Because you’re worth it. Because we’re worth it. I just need to know—are you ready to take that risk with me?"

Her hand comes up to cover mine where it rests on her cheek, her fingers curling around it as her eyes shine with unshed tears. "I am," she says, her voice trembling slightly. "I’m ready, Miguel. You make me feel… safe. Like I don’t have to hold back anymore. I want this. I want you."

The relief and joy that rush through me are overwhelming, and I pull her down into a kiss that’s soft and full of promise. Her hand slides into my hair, and I deepen the kiss, savoring the way she melts against me.

"I love the way you’re so thoughtful," I murmur between kisses, my lips brushing hers. "How you notice everything, even the small stuff."

"Miguel—" she begins, but I cut her off with another kiss.

"I love how good you are with Felicity," I continue, my voice rougher now. "You make her laugh in ways I haven’t seen in years."

Her hand tightens in my hair as I press my forehead to hers.

"I love how strong you are," I whisper. "How you don’t let anything—or anyone—hold you back."

Tears spill from her eyes, and she lets out a soft laugh, brushing them away. "Stop. You’re going to make me cry more."

"Good," I tease, kissing the corner of her mouth. "I want you to know exactly how much you mean to me."

Her laughter turns into a quiet sob as she presses her lips to mine, her kiss full of every unspoken word we don’t need to say out loud.

The moment grows heated again, our hands roaming, our bodies pressing closer. I shift us slightly, but the couch—too small to handle us in this moment—betrays us.

With a sudden lurch, we tumble off the edge, landing in a heap on the floor, tangled in the blanket.

Mia bursts into laughter, her head tipping back as she lies sprawled on top of me. "Oh my God," she says between gasps. "Did we just fall off your couch?"

I’m laughing too, clutching her hips to steady us. "That’s one way to keep things exciting."

She shakes her head, her laughter subsiding into soft giggles as she looks down at me. Her cheeks are flushed, her eyes shining with happiness, and I swear she’s never looked more beautiful.

"Unbelievable," she says, leaning down to kiss me again.

"And yet," I reply, brushing her hair out of her face, "here you are, falling for me—literally."

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