Page 64 of His To Unravel
The temptation nearly undoes me. It would be so easy to say yes, to let myself be swept away by the tidal wave of his attentiveness and affection. When I’m with him, it feels like I’m living in a dream, weightless and cherished in ways I never thought possible.
But how long can it really last?
I glance back at the messages, the demands pulling me out of the haze of what could be and back to whatis. This is my life—the reality of Ashby, of a family that relies on me. Nathaniel might feel like the answer to everything I’ve ever wanted, but we’ve only been seeing each other for a short time. Not long enough to trust what we have, to risk losing myself completely in him.
If I let myself fall too far into him, I know what will happen. When the dream shatters—and it will—it will hurt more than anything I’ve endured before.
I take a deep breath, steadying myself. The Castor & Wyatt email sitting open on my laptop is an opportunity, a ticket to a life where I can finally break this cycle. The life I want is within reach, if only I can be brave enough to grasp it.
You can’t keep doing this, Olivia. You can’t keep giving pieces of yourself until there’s nothing left.
I look around the cozy café, the clinking of cups and soft hum of conversation a grounding contrast to the storm inside me. Determination settles over me. I’m going to do this, not just for myself, but to prove that I can break free.
The soft chime of the café door bell pulls me from my thoughts. I glance up instinctively, feeling the tug of some invisible string.
And there he is.
Nathaniel’s imposing frame fills the doorway, his chestnut brown hair slightly tousled, a striking contrast to his usual immaculate composure. His blue eyes sweep the room until they find me, and the look of intent in them sends a thrill through my veins, sharp and undeniable.
My breath hitches as he crosses the room with that familiar, effortless confidence, his gaze never wavering. When he reaches me, he doesn’t hesitate before wrapping me in his arms, his touch both firm and comforting, as if he needs the contact as much as I do. He leans in, his lips brushing against mine with a tenderness that uncoils something deep inside me.
I melt into him, my hands instinctively finding their way to his shoulders, feeling the strength beneath his shirt, each muscle taut and sure. When he pulls back, his hand settles gently against my cheek, his thumb brushing my skin in a gesture that feels both protective and possessive.
His voice low and steady, he says, “I was hoping to find you here. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”
“I missed you too,” I admit, the truth slipping out before I can stop it.
As if he can’t help himself, Nathaniel presses another kiss to my forehead before declaring, “If it were up to me, I’d never leave your side.”
A shiver runs through me at his words, sinking into my bones. It feels like he has peeled back every defensive layer, touching the part of me that yearns to be seen, to be wanted without condition.
Right now, with his arms around my body and his voice wrapping around my thoughts, he feels like everything I’ve ever wanted. My heart gallops in my chest, caught between exhilaration and fear of how deeply I’m falling, despite the promises I made to myself just moments ago.
Yet, beneath the warmth that fills me, a small, cautious voice persists, reminding me to hold on to who I am, to stay rooted in my own goals and dreams.
I cannot rely on anyone else to save me.
Slowly, I ease back into my seat, letting my gaze drift out the window. I take in the bustling world outside, unchanged by the storm Nathaniel has brought into my life.
So much has shifted since he entered my world, reshaping it with his intensity, his passion. I’m just starting to realize that it’s only the beginning—how much more might change if I truly give in?
Nathaniel sits across from me, his hand finding mine and firmly interlocking our fingers. But instead of feeling comforted, there’s a weight to his touch—a reminder that he’s everywhere, even in this small, private corner of my world.
This café has been my refuge since I started at Halford, a place untouched by the outside pressures that constantly pull at me. And now, here he is, slipping into this space as seamlessly as he has all the others.
I study his face across from me, the way he seems to belong even here, and it dawns on me with a pang that if I give him all of myself, nothing in my life will be solely mine anymore.
Because that’s who Nathaniel is. He won’t be satisfied with pieces of me—he’llwant them all.
He would slip past every defense I built, as easily as he’s done with everything else.
The weight of that realization settles over me—the increasingly inescapable truth that no matter how carefully I try to guard myself, Nathaniel will always find a way in.
He looks at me, blue eyes searching mine with that familiar, intense gaze. “What are you thinking about, Olivia?” His voice is soft, coaxing, as if he can already sense the distance in my thoughts.
I sigh, the sound barely audible over the background clatter of the café. For a moment, I trace the edge of my cup with my fingertip, gathering the courage to give him even a sliver of the truth.
“Just…how easy it is to forget everything else when I’m with you,” I murmur, keeping my voice steady, even as my heart stumbles. “And I’m not yet sure if that’s good or bad.”
