Page 36 of His To Unravel
As we start walking, I notice the blush that still stains her cheeks, the way she leans ever so slightly toward me, as if drawn by an invisible string.
And I revel in it, knowing I’ve worked myself deeper into her mind, her heart, her body.
At the dorm steps, I pull her close for one last kiss, sliding my tongue between her parted lips and claiming her all over again. Reminding her.
When I pull back, she blinks up at me, lips parted, fingers brushing her mouth. Surprised.
Because she can taste herself on me.
Good. I want her to lie in bed tonight thinking about my mouth between her thighs.
And tomorrow?
I’ll find new ways to remind her who she belongs to.
TWELVE
olivia
The buzzof my phone pulls me from the mirror as I finish getting ready, Nathaniel’s name lighting up the screen. It’s early for our usual texts, and my stomach flutters as I swipe open the message.
NATHANIEL
Headed out soon?
I smirk, sensing the tension behind his question. His messages always carry a subtle edge, like he’s hoping for me to cancel and ask to spend the evening with him instead.
Yes, Mr. Caldwell. I’ll be heading out with friends. I promise I will survive.
There’s a pause, and I watch the three dots flash as he types his response. I can picture the slight crease in his brow, the possessiveness he’s still too careful to admit outright. He isn’t the type to openly demand my time—at least, not yet. But I feel it. That underlying resistance to sharing me.
NATHANIEL
You’d have a much better night with me, you know.
I laugh, glancing at my reflection. His words stir a thrill in me, a sense of excitement blooming beneath the usual nerves. Part of mewantsto give in, but I know it’s important to have a balance—keeping a part of my life separate, something that isn’t entirely woven around him, even as I feel myself falling deeper.
Tempting, but Carolyn would probably hunt you down if I canceled.
NATHANIEL
There’s only one woman I want coming for me.
A blush creeps up my neck. I’m not sure what I expected him to say—but it wasn’tthat. Before I can decide how to respond, another message comes through.
NATHANIEL
At least tell me you’re wearing the necklace.
I reach for the pendant around my neck, my fingers brushing over the initials engraved on the back. It still surprises me—how beautiful it is, how bold the gesture was. A gift that felt like too much…and yet, somehow,exactlylike him. A private reminder of the line I’m walking. Of how easy it is to fall when he’s the one catching me.
I snap a quick selfie and send it to him.
I made a promise to you, didn’t I?
I feel a thrill as I wait, like I’m anticipating something I hadn’t realized I wanted so badly until now. His response appears almostimmediately, a short, unassuming phrase that induces a rush of satisfaction through me.
NATHANIEL
