Page 82 of Twisted Truths
Nash chose me.
No. He choseus.
I repeat those words in my head, stitching them into something real. He’s choosing a future with me, one where we get Franklin away from Guardian Solomon and Seraphina, where we can raise him together away from the ghosts of this town.
The way he kissed me, like he was claiming me, owning me, I was fully prepared to yield, to give myself completely to him. But he reluctantly released me and brought me inside. He’s currently showering in the mud room, while I’m standing in the main bathroom, staring at my flushed reflection in the mirror, unable to wipe the silly grin off my face. I’m no longer the broken and lost girl searching for a place to belong—she’s long gone—because I found myself with Zara’s brother.
With him, I’m brave, a little bit reckless, and a whole lot seen.
With him, I feel safe.
With him, my body comes to life in ways it never has before, and I want to explore what that means.
After a quick shower, I slip into a clean pair of Zara’s sweatpants and a fresh tank top, my cheeks heating at the memory of Nash’s eyes trailing over my body when he saw me earlier. The loose, conservative clothing we were expected to wear in the Circle hid all my emotional scars with my body. After battling with my eating disorder, I never thought I’d feel comfortable in my own skin, but the heat in Nash’s eyes chased those demons away.
The water from the mud room shower is still running, so I collect the book I was reading earlier and take it back to my bedroom, trying to get lost in the words. However, my overactive mind is racing with thoughts of what it might feel like to have Nash’s hands over my body.
I’ve fooled around with boys when I was younger, some kissing and on top of the clothes touching, but I never found anyone who made my heart beat faster while simultaneously eliciting a sense of calm and belonging. Nash does all of those things.
A soft knock on the door jolts me from my thoughts, and my cheeks heat as I hear him call my name.
I slip out of bed and pad across the soft carpet to open the door. The sight of Nash standing there, freshly showered and in nothing but a pair of sweatpants, causes my mouth to go dry, and I force my gaze to lift from his sculpted abs to meet his amused eyes.
“I wanted to make sure you’re okay,” he says, leaning casually against the door frame.
“I’m good,” I smile up at him.
“Good,” he echoes, rubbing the back of his neck as his eyes drift over to my crumpled sheets. “That’s good.”
“What about you?” I ask, my teeth digging into my bottom lip as I step closer to him. I have to crane my neck to maintain eye contact with him, and I don’t miss the heat in his gaze as he looks down at me with hooded eyes.
A soft groan rumbles through him as his hands grip my waist, pulling me into his warm body. “Goddamn, Hadley,” Nash murmurs, nuzzling his lips into the crook of my neck, causing goosebumps to break out over my exposed skin. My hands slide up his naked chest to wrap around his neck, and he shivers under my touch. “I’m trying really hard to do the right thing here.”
“What if I don’t want you to?” I whisper, pressing my lips to his feverish skin.
Another tortured sound escapes his lips as he nips and sucks at my neck, causing the most delicious feeling to wash over me, starting from the point of contact all the way down to my curling toes. I hum, closing my eyes and melting into him. His fingers dip under my tank top, brushing a soft caress over my skin. A fluttering sensation has me mewling for more.
“Tell me to stop and I will.” His voice is thick with desire.
“Please don’t,” I beg, arching into him.
Nash mutters a curse, and I squeak as his hands slip under my arse and he lifts me, my legs instinctively wrapping around his waist. My core presses down on his erection and we both moan as he captures my lips with his, hungrily devouring me as he carries me to his bedroom.
He kicks the door closed before striding over to the bed and laying me down, his mouth never leaving mine. Nash braces his weight on his arms as he continues to kiss me like a man starving for air. My fingers tangle in his curls as I meet his intensity with my own, letting him know in no uncertain terms that I want this. I want him. Irrevocably.
His lips mould to mine as if they were destined for eachother, his erratic heart beat matching my own. I’m so overwhelmed by sensation; I’m floating, and I never want to come down. I’ve never felt this intense need for another person before.
“Nash,” I gasp as his lips trail over my jaw.
“You’re so fucking beautiful it hurts,” he murmurs in my ear, peppering little kisses on the sweet spot below.
“I need you to touch me.” I’m feverish, quivering beneath him.
“Are you sure?” He rises onto his elbows to gaze down at me, which only grinds his hard length over my pulsing pussy.
“Please,” I tell him.
“Have you ever…” his voice trails off when I bite down on my bottom lip and shake my head. He blows out a shaky exhale and rests his forehead on mine, our noses brushing. “I’ll go slow.” My expression drops, and he chuckles. “We need to work you up to this if you’re going to enjoy it, little possum.”
