The fight transforms in an instant. Anger bleeding into something hotter, more dangerous. Rage becoming need.
Caelen backs me against the wall. Hands framing my face, forcing me to meet his eyes. Dark. Intense. Consuming.
"You're mine?" His voice is rough. Demanding proof.
"Yes." No hesitation.
"Not strategy? Not revenge?" His thumb traces my jaw. Possessive. "Tell me this is real."
"Real." I'm kissing him between words. "This is real. So fucking real."
I pull at his clothes like fabric is the enemy. Buttons scattering across his floor. Don't care. Need skin. Need him closer.
His hands are everywhere. In my hair, on my waist, sliding down to grip my thighs. Setting every nerve ending on fire.
"Bedroom," he growls against my mouth. "Now."
We stumble down the hall. Can't stop kissing. Can't stop touching. Three days of tension exploding into this moment.
His bedroom is all dark sheets and clean lines. Minimal furniture. Nothing wasted. Pure Caelen.
The gala's still happening somewhere. People probably looking for us. Alexander, board members, the entire New York elite witnessing our dramatic exit.
Don't care. Can't care about anything except right now.
He strips me slowly despite the urgency thrumming between us. Takes time with each piece like he's unwrapping something precious.
The diamonds first. Unclasping the necklace with careful fingers. Setting it aside like it matters.
Then the dress. Red silk sliding down in a whisper. Pooling at my feet.
"I need you to be sure," he says. Eyes locked on mine. "About this. About us. No more confusion. No more him."
"I'm sure." I pull him down by what's left of his collar. "I love you. Not him. Not anyone. You."
The words break something in him. Shatter whatever control he's been maintaining.
Then he's everywhere. Mouth on my neck, sucking hard enough to leave marks. Claiming me where everyone will see tomorrow.
Down my collarbone. Between my breasts. Lower still.
His hands slide up my thighs. Slow. Deliberate. Building anticipation until I'm shaking.
"Caelen—" His name comes out breathless.
"Want to take my time," he murmurs against my stomach. "Want to savor every second."
Savor. Like I'm worth the patience. Worth the effort.
His mouth finds the sensitive skin of my inner thigh. Teeth grazing. Tongue soothing. Driving me insane with the slow pace.
I'm whimpering. Actually whimpering like I've never been touched before.
Then his mouth is on me and thought evaporates. Just sensation. Just heat. Just him learning exactly what destroys me.
He builds me up methodically. Like he's got all night and intends to use every second mapping what makes me lose my mind.
One finger inside me. Then two. Curling to hit that spot that makes stars explode behind my eyelids.
His tongue working magic in rhythm with his hand. Patient. Thorough. Relentless.
"Who do you belong to?" he asks against my skin. Voice rough with want.
"You." Barely managing words. "Only you."
"Say it again." His fingers move faster. Mouth more insistent.
"You. God, you. I love you."
"Again." Not letting up. Building me higher until I'm trembling.
"I love you, Caelen. Please—"
I shatter. Come apart completely with his name on my lips. Crying out loud enough his neighbors definitely hear.
Don't care.
He works me through it. Gentles his touch as aftershocks roll through me. Makes it last until I'm boneless, trembling, completely undone.
Then he's moving up my body. Kissing me. I can taste myself on his tongue and it's obscene and perfect.
"Inside me," I manage. Voice wrecked. "Now. Please."
He positions himself. Slides in slowly. Giving me time to adjust even though I'm begging him to move faster.
And it's different. Different from every other time. Different from anything with Kael.
Not just fucking. Making love. Cheesy as hell but absolutely true.
He watches my face while he moves. Eyes open. Present. Seeing every moment of pleasure cross my features.
Holds my gaze like he can see straight into my soul.
"You're beautiful," he breathes. "So fucking beautiful like this."
His pace is slow. Deep. Deliberate strokes that make me feel everything. Make me present in my body instead of trying to escape it.
"I love you," he says. First time he's said it in this moment. "I've loved you since month two. Was just waiting for you to catch up."
I kiss him. Desperate. Real. Trying to make up for lost time with every touch.
His rhythm increases. Still controlled but more urgent. Hand sliding between us to find that bundle of nerves again.
"Say it," he demands. "Say you love me."
"I love you." Easy. True. "I love you so much."
"Again." His hips snap forward. Hitting that perfect spot.
"I love you, Caelen." Louder. "I love you."
"Again." Relentless. Building me up to break me apart again.
"I love you—" The words dissolve into a moan. "Oh god, I love you—"
I come around him. Violent. All-consuming. His name like prayer, like the only word that matters.
He follows seconds later. Face buried in my neck. Holding me so tight I can barely breathe.
Perfect. Exactly perfect.
After, we're tangled together in his sheets. Sweat-slicked and trembling. Hearts still pounding against each other.
"Don't leave me," I whisper against his chest. Vulnerable. Scared to say it but saying it anyway. "Please don't leave me."
"Not planning on it." His hand runs through my hair. Gentle. "Not going anywhere."
"Even knowing I'm fucked up?" The confession comes out small. "That I kissed my ex? That I hid it for three days like a coward?"
"Everyone's fucked up. You're just honest about yours." He kisses my forehead. Soft. Real. "That's why I love you."
Not despite my mess. Because of my honesty about it.
"I meant it," I say. Need him to understand completely. "When I said I choose you. I choose you, Caelen. Every day. For real."
"I know." His arms tighten around me. "I felt it. Feel it."
We stay wrapped around each other in his bed. Door locked. World outside irrelevant.
The gala's ending. Alexander's probably wondering where we disappeared to. Tomorrow there will be headlines about the scene we caused, the drama we created.
Don't care. None of it matters compared to this.
I chose him. Finally. Completely. Chose him with every word, every touch, every moment.
Everything else can wait.