Hailee’s POV
Nathan’s breath stopped in his throat for a moment.
He stared right into my eyes, not blinking, as if he was trying to look deeper than my face—as if he wanted to see the truth hiding inside me. His fingers held my waist tightly, not softly at all, but tight, like I was something he could not lose again.
"Hailee..." he said, my name coming out in a rough, broken sound. It hit me like a punch. "Don’t say things like that unless you want me to believe every word."
My lips opened, and air rushed out, but no words came. My heart felt like it had crashed against a wall inside me, a wall made of all the fear I never said out loud.
Then my body moved before my mind did.
I threw myself onto him, my knees hitting the mattress on both sides of his body so fast the bed shook.
He gasped—a horrible, painful sound—and his hands grabbed my hips fast, stopping me from landing on him.
"Careful," he growled, his face pale and tight because of the pain. His eyes were wide, dark with hurt but also full of the desire to fuck me. "My chest... it still hurts."
I pulled back fast, sliding off him as if I had touched fire. Fear hit me hard in the stomach.
"Oh my God, Nathan! I’m so sorry! I didn’t think—"
His hands reached up and grabbed my face, holding my cheeks between his thumbs.
"No. Stop," he said sharply. "It’s not your fault. Just stop panicking."
His voice was strong, even though he was in pain. "We have to go slow. Breathe. Just breathe."
I felt bad... I almost hurt him because I had moved without thinking.
I sat beside him and gently placed my hand on his arm, the one that wasn’t hurt. My fingers shook.
"Nathan," I whispered softly. "I meant what I said. But I won’t hurt you. Not ever."
He turned his head toward me and kissed my palm, pressing his lips to it with a needy force.
"Then help me forget the pain," he said, his voice low and rough. "Stay with me."
He moved slowly, pushing himself back against the pillows, his breath short and shaky. His chest rose and fell quickly, and even though he looked like he was hurting, he also looked at me like he needed me more than air.
I leaned in and kissed him again—but this time it was slow and deep, a kiss that meant something real.
My fingers found the buttons of his pajama top and undid them one by one. I moved carefully, watching his eyes every second, checking if anything hurt him.
When I finished, I gently pushed the shirt open and saw the white bandage on his injured chest. Just seeing it made my stomach fall. It reminded me how close I came to losing him.
I lowered my head and placed my cheek right beside the bandage. His heartbeat was loud and strong under my ear.
Nathan let out a long, shaky breath and wrapped one arm tightly around me, pulling me closer than before.
"This," he whispered into my hair. "This is what I need. Only this."
I lifted my head slowly and looked at him. All the love I had been holding inside poured out of my eyes.
I kissed him again, harder this time—on his jaw, on his neck, on his ear.
My hand slid under the blanket, feeling the warm skin along his side, the muscles I had missed for so long.
He made a rough sound in his throat, his breathing quick and uneven.
"Hailee," he groaned, as if he was losing control.
I pulled back just enough to look into his eyes. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮
We were both thinking the same thing.
We both knew the hesitation was gone.
I pushed the blanket down and took off my clothes—the dress, everything—throwing it all aside.
I knelt on the bed and leaned over him, keeping my weight on my arms so I wouldn’t hurt his ribs.
When I finally lay beside him, our bare skin touching, it felt like something huge and powerful had snapped between us.
I moved carefully, putting my weight only on my forearm and side, not anywhere near his chest.
"God, you’re sexy," he whispered, staring at me like he couldn’t believe I was real.
His hand came up and held my jaw, his fingers warm and shaking.
I kissed him again, deep and hungry.
His body reacted under me, his hips twitching, a frustrated sound coming out of him because he wanted more, but his injuries kept holding him back.
"I need you," he said against my mouth, his voice full of need. "I felt empty every night after you left."
I didn’t answer with words.
I moved closer and pressed my hips into his, as I began to sink into his cock.
He was ready. And so was I.
But I moved slowly, gently, but with deep need.

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