Page 196 of Scattered Glitter

“A very good thing.” She moves toward the workout equipment, eyeing it with curiosity. “You work out at home too?”

“Sometimes,” I answer, feeling a bit on display but liking the attention.

She turns to me. “What else do you do?”

What else do I do?

That’s a loaded question. I search for a way to answer that without sounding lame.

“Well,” I start, shrugging. “When my mother doesn’t drag me to some business meeting or gathering, I work out or binge series and movies. And the parkour thing. I don’t do much besides hanging around this goddamn penthouse.” She looks at me, waiting, and I know she’s going to call me out on it, so I brace myself.

“Why don’t you get your own place, then? If you’re such a homebody, you could at least relax somewhere that feels comfortable, you know?”

I let out a sigh, thinking through my response. “It’s not like I have anyone around here, Rosie. I don’t have friends. There’s nobody I hang out with and no reason to go anywhere else. It doesn’t matter if I’m sitting around here alone or somewhere else. And honestly, as much as I can’t stand my mother most of the time, at least she talks to me.” There’s something in her eyes I can’t quite place, but it’s not pity. “God,” I mutter, embarrassed. “That was too much information. You must think I’m pathetic.”

She still doesn’t say anything as she walks over to me with that same calm look in her eyes, and before I know it,she’s pushing me down to sit on the edge of the bed. I barely have time to react before she’s climbing onto my lap. My heart is racing now, but I keep my eyes on her beautiful green ones, waiting for whatever she’s about to say.

“I have a lot of words in my head right now to describe you, Nico, but not one of them ispathetic.”

It’s as if the world narrows down to only her, her weight pressed against me, the intoxicatingly sweet scent of her hair and skin. She doesn’t hesitate. Her hands slide up my shoulders, steadying herself as she leans in, her face so close I can see every fleck of gold in her eyes.

“Sweetness,” I murmur roughly as my hands go to her hips, and the nickname makes her lips curve into a faint smile.

Her pulse beats at her throat, her skin warm against my hands. I watch her, almost mesmerized. I want to kiss her again so badly it aches, but doubt stalls me. I don’t want her to think this is why I brought her here. I don’t want to fuck this up.

I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to…

Before I spiral any further, her lips meet mine in a whisper-soft kiss, tentative at first, as if she’s giving me a chance to pull away. When I don’t, her hands slide into my hair, and her fingers tighten, tugging me closer.

A whimper slips from my throat before I can stop it. Pulling her flush against me, I give in, feeling every inch of her, every curve molded perfectly to me. The kiss deepens, the world fading away until there’s nothing left but the heat between us, the electric pull that has my heart racing.

God, she feels perfect—every move, every brush of her lips, like something I didn’t even know I needed. Her scent surrounds me, and it’s so fucking sweet. I can’t get enough. My fingers press against her back, feeling her through the fabric of her shirt. She doesn’t hold back, her mouthclaiming mine with more urgency now, her hips shifting in a way that has me practically dizzy.

I love that she’s taking control.

Fuck.

I’m not going to survive her.

She barely pulls back, her breath mixing with mine as she hovers close, her eyes hooded, cheeks flushed. Then she leans in again, her lips brushing my jaw, tracing down to my neck and grazing my skin with her teeth. I tighten my hold on her, pushing my hips up and making her groan, breathing in that addictive scent of hers, letting it consume me.

“You smell… amazing,” I admit roughly with a mixture of awe and need. “And youfeel amazing.” She smiles against my neck, her laugh breathy.

I shift, leaning back against the headboard and pulling her with me before letting her settle more fully on top of me. My hands find her waist again, guiding her closer. She sits up, her hands trailing over my chest, her eyes dark with something I recognize all too well.

God, she’s so beautiful, so perfect, and I could stay here forever. The world outside, all the chaos and pressure, fades into the background. Right now, it’s onlyher.Her mouth is on mine, her body against mine, while her scent fills my senses until I can’t think straight.

My thumbs brush the exposed skin above her waistband, and her breath catches. I swear that little sound is going to haunt me. She pulls back enough to look at me, her lips swollen, her hair a little messy, and it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

She shifts again, grinding herself on me, and I have to bite back another whimper. I’m not sure I’ve ever wanted anyone as much as I want her right now. Every brush of herhands over my chest, every little movement, is torture—the sweetest kind.

“This…” I reach up to brush a strand of hair away from her face. “You…the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

She smiles a little shyly, which only makes her more perfect, but instead of answering, she kisses me again, as if she’s claiming me, piece by piece.

And I let her.

She breaks the kiss to catch her breath, her forehead resting against mine while we’re both panting. Her fingers trace along my jawline, and she gifts me a smile that makes my heart stutter.

---