Page 71 of On The Edge
I don’t want any of them blind-sided or thinking I’m someone I’m not.
Watching them fall out of love with me because they were in love with someone else. Someone who no longer existed instead ofme.That would kill me.
“You couldn’t have fallen further than me,” he says softly, putting a finger under my chin and tipping my face up to his. “I fell quickly and haven’t really stopped falling until the night I saw you again. It took me a moment. It took the guys smacking some sense into me, it took you crying in front of me with no interest for comfort from me, for me to realize how cruel I’d become. So whatever you’ve done, whatever you’ve gone through, whatever you’re worried about, I can promise you that we’ll get through it together.”
“What if you change your mind?” I can’t live through this again. I can’t give him my heart–give all of them a piece of my heart–and have them leave just because I disappoint them.
Reis chuckles, and I marvel at the sound. At how he looks while he laughs. The darkness I’ve associated with him since we’ve been back, vanishes. His dark eyes sparkle, his smirk is playful. He looks lighter, more like the Reis I remember. The Reisyn I love.
“I’ve spent seven years trying to not love you, Melody, and it didn’t work. The moment I saw you again, I realized I spent those years in vain. Nothing; not time, not space, or anything else, will keep me from loving you.”
My breath catches softly, and I can’t help it, tears line my eyes again.
“I-I love you, too.”
I know I do. I know it with every fiber of my being that I’m in love with this man.
His eyes light up as a slow smile grows on his face. Reis is breath-taking when he smiles. He hasn’t smiled in my presencein so long, and now that I get to witness it, I wish I could take a photo. One I can have in my back pocket for days when the storms feel too dark.
I want to keep him happy all the time so I can see that smile on his face.
“You’re sure?” He asks.
“I mean, don’t get me wrong, you’ve got some more groveling to do, but yes. I’m sure I love you,” I say with a soft grin, our eyes meeting over the small space. Reis' eyes dip to my lips, want and promise darkening his eyes.
“I’ll grovel every day for the rest of my life as long as you’re by my side,” he vows, and closes the gap between us in an explosive kiss. His hands on my face and my hands grab his shirt, pulling him closer.
Kissing Reis,fuck, it’s like everything I’d ever imagined it would be. He’s giving and gentle, but the longer the kiss goes on the harder and more desperate it becomes. Reis' hand cups the back of my neck, holding me very willingly in place.
His lips press harder against me, our lips and tongues fighting for dominance as I open in a moan. Reis doesn’t waste the opportunity to invade my mouth and take this further. I think I’d smack him if he didn’t because Ineedhim.
“Oh god,” I pull back, dizzy with the need for air, but his lips just move to my neck. “Reis,” I moan, slipping my hands into his hair and pulling at the thick strands.
“Are you guys done yet?” Kai–it’s always Kai–calls through the room, breaking our bubble, but Reis doesn’t stop dragging his teeth softly over my skin. “We still need to talk things through!” Reis freezes, but his hands grip me tighter.
“I’m going to fucking kill him,” he growls, pulling away from my neck. God, he’s handsome. His lips are all red and bitten from our deep kisses. His skin is marked byme.
“Don’t do that.” Smacking his arm playfully, I try to detach as gently from him as I can, even if I really don’t want to. And judging by the hardness against my hip, neither does he.
“Come on, I know you all are listening!” I call out to the guys.
Like we’re in a freaking sitcom, each of their heads pop out from around the corner, one by one.
They’re all so cute, I have to giggle.
Kai comes out first, running towards me and picking me up. He swings me around, excitedly kissing my face all over.
“I told you so,” he whispers in my ear before kissing my swollen lips.
“You did,” I say, smiling at him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders.
Markus and Adam walk in; Markus with a knowing smile on his face before opening his arms to me right as Kai lets me down and I’m given to Markus. He hugs me tightly, kissing my forehead and resting his forehead against mine. It feels significant, this step. All our cards are on the table.
Adam walks over, hands in his pockets and takes a deep breath, all while looking at me meaningfully.
“Are we doing this then? Officially?” He asks, messing with his lip ring nervously. “You’re ours?” He’s trying to play it cool, but I see the tension in his jaw, the way his breathing is just a little too controlled. His eyes, though… they give him away.
A mix of worry and fierce hope in his eyes, burning quietly beneath the surface, but it’s laced with something else—fear. Like he’s bracing for the worst, like he’s already preparing himself for the moment I might sayno.
