Page 71 of His To Unravel
Elizabeth’s fear of surrendering her heart to someone who had shaken the foundation of everything she believed in—it’s as if I’m watching a reflection of my own turmoil. My chest tightens as Darcy’s feelings pour from the screen, and I steal a glance at Nathaniel.
I find his gaze already fixed on me, his cobalt eyes dark and intent, as though he can see every thought flitting through my mind. The weight of his attention makes me feel exposed, yet there’s comfort in it too—a reminder that I’m not alone in this.
Darcy’s voice is soft but firm, his words wrapping around my heart like an embrace.
“You have bewitched me, body and soul.”
His vulnerability—the way he lays himself bare before Elizabeth—is so striking that I can’t help but feel my own defenses begin to crack.
The credits roll, but I barely register them.
My thoughts are consumed by Nathaniel—the way he always seems to see me, even the parts of me I try to hide. He doesn’t just want me in the fleeting, surface-level way others have in thepast. He wants all of me, and for the first time, I want to offer myself freely, without fear.
I turn to him, my heart pounding. His face softens when our eyes meet, and that tenderness is all I need to finally find my courage.
“Nathaniel,” I start, my voice trembling slightly. “I need to say something.”
His brows lift, a flicker of curiosity crossing his face. “You can tell me anything,” he says, his voice reassuring.
I hesitate, the words lodged in my throat. But then I remember how brave Darcy was, and I think of Nathaniel—how he has been my anchor even when I tried to drift away.
“I’m falling in love with you,” I confess, my voice barely above a whisper. The words feel like a leap off a precipice, terrifying and exhilarating all at once. “I tried to fight it, but I can’t anymore. I don’t want to.”
For a moment, silence stretches between us, and I wonder if I’ve made a mistake.
But then Nathaniel reaches out, his hand warm and steady as it slides to the back of my neck. His eyes burn into mine with an intensity that makes my breath catch.
“Then don’t fight it,” he says, his voice wrecked. “I beg you, Olivia—don’t fight this. Don’t fightus.” His thumb brushes along my jawline, and the raw vulnerability in his tone cracks something open inside me.
“Please,” he whispers, “let yourself fall in love with me.” He leans in and presses his forehead against mine, his breath hot against my lips. “Because I’m so fucking in love with you.”
The space between us breaks like a dam.
And this time, when he closes the distance—when his mouth finds mine?—
I don’t hesitate.
I fall.
TWENTY-ONE
nathaniel
The movie credits roll on,forgotten. My entire world narrows to Olivia and the words that just tumbled from her lips.
“I’m falling in love with you.”
The echo of her confession reverberates in my chest, a perfect, shattering symphony. I’ve imagined this moment so many times—worked tirelessly, obsessively, to bring her here—and yet, nothing could have prepared me for the reality of finally hearing the words.
Olivia.MyOlivia.
My gaze rakes over her beautiful face, drinking her in like it’s the first time. Her cheeks are flushed, her lips slightly parted, still trembling from the gravity of her admission. The soft glow of the room wraps around her like a halo, but it’s the look in her eyes that undoes me. She’s finally let the last of her walls fall, and she’s mine in a way she hasn’t been before.
All this time, I’ve been more patient than I ever thought myself capable of, revealing to her only the pieces of myself she could handle. But now, I want to show her everything. She trusts me, wants me, and I want to consume her in turn.
“Olivia,” I breathe, reaching for my girl, my fingersbrushing across her cheek, needing to touch her. I don’t miss the way her pupils dilate, the way her breath hitches. “I want you.”
“Then have me,” she whispers, looking straight into my eyes—and the last vestige of my control snaps.
