Page 82 of Undone

We talked for a while longer, exchanging small updates about my new life in Woodstone. They asked about the town, and we shared a few stories, but the tension surrounding John was always lurking beneath the surface.

“Well, we’ll let you go, dear. I’m glad I got to talk to you and hope you have a good rest of your night.”

“Night, love you guys,” I said, hanging up the phone as the old screen door creaked open behind me.

I turned in my seat, and there was Dorian, stepping through the doorway, his footsteps soft on the old wooden boards. His dark hair was more tousled than usual, and his glasses sat perched on his nose.

“Who could stand closest to the door, huh?” he teased, his lopsided smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

I groaned and let my head fall into my hands, leaning forward in the chair.

Dorian crossed the small porch, dragging the chair across from me closer, the scrape of wood against wood filling the night.

He sat down, his knees brushing against mine in a small movement that sent my heart skittering.

Without hesitation, he reached for my wrists, pulling my hands free from where they were hiding my face. The gesture forced my gaze to meet his, and the intensity in his eyes made my breath catch.

There was something raw in the way he looked at me. His eyes tired from a long day, his hair in messy waves that caught the light. For a moment, he looked more vulnerable than I’d ever seen him. The glasses perched on his nose only added to his charm, somehow making him look both disheveled and composed—like someone who’d seen too much of the world, yet still managed to hold something back.

He was simply beautiful.

“You know,” I began, trying to lighten the tension building between us. “I kind of like the glasses. You’ve nailed the hot nerd vibe.”

His laugh was low, a rumble that sent shivers across my skin. “Ran out of contacts,” he said, shaking his head. “I never let that happen, but my mind’s been a little… distracted lately.” His eyes softened as he said it, and for a fleeting moment, I let myself believe I was the reason. “Forgot to order more, so I’m stuck with the glasses until next week.”

“Well, feel free to wear them around me anytime.” I giggled, the sound light and carefree despite the tension coiled between us.

He leaned forward, his eyes locking with mine, and for a brief second, his gaze dropped to my lips.

My patience faltered, and before I could think better of it, I closed the gap. His lips met mine in a hesitant brush, soft and tentative at first. But when I parted my lips, allowing his tongue to meet mine, the kiss deepened into something more.

Something that made me feel alive.

A low groan escaped him, his hands skating across my thighs, gripping my hips, and moving me onto his lap. I giggled against his mouth as I settled onto him.

His breath mingled with mine, and he chuckled, the sound vibrating through me. “Peach,” he murmured against my lips, “you gotta stop.”

“No,” I whispered, refusing to let the moment slip away.

But he pulled back, his eyes full of something that made my stomach drop. Admiration. Warmth. Fear.

“We gotta talk about this,” he said.

I slid off his lap, back into my chair. The distance between us was necessary, a barrier to keep my emotions in check.

“Let’s talk, then,” I said, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

He reached for my hand, his fingers intertwining with mine like he needed the contact to stay grounded. I didn’t move away. The heat of his skin centered me.

“We didn’t really have a full conversation. I know we said casual, but for me, that means there’s no one else. Only you.”

“Of course,” I replied.

I didn’t want anyone else. Only him.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared, Noah,” he admitted. “But I like you. I like being with you, kissing you. I like hearing about your day. I like listening to the witty things you say, and I especially like watching you come apart.” His voice dropped, rough and raw, and my heart raced. “I’m not really sure what the fuck that means, but I don’t bring anyone around Gracie, but you’re already in her life. I don’t know how to navigate this, but for now, like you said, let’s keep it casual.”

I could see the conflict written all over his face—the way his brows furrowed, the way his lips tightened. He was looking for answers, desperate for them, and I wasn’t sure I had any to give.

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