Chapter 51 CHAPTER 51

Chapter 51 CHAPTER 51
Lights splintered across the dance floor, shards of color cutting through the darkness as bodies moved with the music. The atmosphere was jubilant and alive but my attention remained fixed on Kelly.

She stared at her heels, dejected as hair slipped forward to hide her face. I wanted to comfort her, do anything that could make it hurt less, but I could tell she didn't want comfort.

She wanted truth.

"Thank you," she whispered. Her body seemed to cave in on itself, defeat settling deep. "Isn't it pathetic I still like him?"

My heart dropped. I knew that feeling too well. Part of me wanted to give her hope, to remind her that sometimes things do change. Cross and I are proof of that. At the same time, I didn't want to prematurely get her hopes up.

"Sometimes you can't help who you like," I said gently. "But if you keep getting pulled to him...maybe it's best you be friends."

Kelly hugged me lightly. I barely felt it over the pounding music. I knew the gesture was for me, her way of saying she'd be okay.

"I’m playing pool with the boys. Did you want to come?"

Rather than agree like I expected her to, Kelly shook her head. "It's okay. Go have fun with your boyfriend. I'll hang out with the cheerleaders."

Her eyes flickered to a figure behind me, and I didn't need to turn to know she'd spotted David. It seemed avoidance would be her choice for now.

I gave her a smile before dissolving into the crowd, weaving through bodies slick with sweat and alcohol.

"What took you so long?" Cross clipped.

"That was barely five minutes. Why are you so grumpy?"

Cross’s look was stale. "I'm not."

"You are," I teased. "You've been irritable today."

His thumb swiped over his lower lip, the veins of his arm standing out. "Because you're always leaving me. And when I show affection you make me feel like I'm doing too much."

"That wasn't my intention," I said, massaging his shoulders. "Remember, you're my first boyfriend. I'm still adjusting this."

"Your first boyfriend...right," he repeated.

His arms wrapped around me. The music had shifted to a slower song, less for dancing and more for singing along. He guided me into a slow sway, our faces inches apart and the noise around us fading until it felt like it was just us.

"Lovebirds! Your turn!" David shouted.

Theodore's howling laughter let me know they'd just won the round of pool.

Earlier, Jennifer had paired with another guy, her disappointment palpable when Theodore refused to play with anyone other than David-his trusted confidant. Really, it was a thinly veiled excuse to not play with her.

It was a shame she chose to ignore that and made a show of collecting the balls and placing them in a triangle, twisting her body over the edge of the table provocatively in Theodore's direction.

Behind me, Cross chuckled. "If you start bending like that, I'll take it as an invitation to stay pressed up against you all night."

Laughing, I shoved his shoulder, and we joined the game.

The rest of the night blurred pleasantly. I won with Cross then played another round with Theodore- which earned him a venomous glare from Jennifer when she finally realized he was avoiding her. The pool table grew crowded, louder than the dance floor with bodies pressing in from all sides.

When I peeled away to use the bathroom, I spotted Larissa. She caught my eye and nodded toward the bar. At first, I assumed she meant the main one where everyone got their drinks, but she kept walking.

The bar we ended up at was quieter, occupied mostly by hotel guests and older men whose eyes lingered too long. Larissa didn't seem to notice. Or she didn't care.

"I'll get us drinks," she said pleasantly. "Any preference?"

"I'll come with you," I said. Despite her amicable demeanor, something uneasy twisted in my gut.

We sat in an empty lounge area, the drink cold against my palm. After having her initial hostility, then her deliberate indifference during practice, I couldn't imagine what she wanted to talk about.

"I know this is strange," she said finally. "Especially now that you're dating my ex." Her eyes took me in, testing how I'd react to the mention of their shared past.

"From what Cross told me, you were never in a serious relationship. I'm his first girlfriend," I said evenly.

Her smile dissolved.

"Oh," she said quietly. "How much of our past did he tell you?" She tugged at the hem of her dress.

She was nervous. I could see it now. She couldn't even look me in the eye. I let the silence stretch and took a slow sip of my drink before answering. "Everything."

Her lips thinned to a fine line. "That was a long time ago. I was young and stupid. I made a mistake. I came back to make amends, I hope you can understand that."

“Cross wants nothing to do with you."

She looked to my side. "Look carefully. That couple over there" she said suddenly, pointing behind me. I turned. An elegant pair swayed beneath the lights, similar to how Cross and I had danced only moments ago.

"Do you see how they fit?" Larissa continued. "That's how Cross and I were supposed to be. We grew up together. Our parents got along. And now we're both heading to great places in life."

I turn back, unimpressed. "If Cross ever forgives you, that's his choice. It has nothing to do with me."

I took another sip of my drink, already bored. Larissa seemed sophisticated at distance, but up close she was far less composed. Too focused on optics and appearances.

"But it does," she disagreed. "It's no coincidence he got into a relationship the moment I came back. To be frank, you're just a by product of what's happening between us. And the sooner you step aside, the less it'll hurt when things fall into place."

"Cross and I were friends for a long time before you returned," I said cooly. "Our relationship has nothing to do with you. If that's all you wanted to say, I think we're done here."

As I got up, Larissa sighed, unbothered.

"I figured you wouldn't understand."

Suddenly, a heavy wave rolled over me. My vision fuzzed and the room tilted. I gripped the edge of the couch, confused by how unsteady I felt while standing still. Light, girlish laughter fluttered through my ears-haughty and lacking the gentleness it carried merely seconds ago.

Something was wrong.



Cross pulled away from the game and handed the stick Theodore. "Your turn." His eyes swept the room for what felt like the hundredth time. He checked his phone again to make sure she hadn't texted him.

Nothing.

He'd been controlling the urge to search for her by playing pool, but he was at his limit. The whole point of playing this game was to keep her entertained, so where was she? A bathroom trip shouldn't take this long. Not for her.

Like an answered prayer, Hilary slid beside him, her sudden presence making Theodore completely miss his shot.

"Did you know your girl went off to talk to Larissa?" she said casually.

His features hardened. "Where?"

And more importantly-why?

What the hell possessed Clarato go anywhere alone with that snake. And why hadn't she told him?

Hilary pointed all the way to the other side, far away from the party and into another crowd.

Cross didn't hesitate. He shouldered his way past bodies and laughter, his pulse pounding loud enough to drown out the music.

Then he saw her.

Clara sat at an obscure bar, her posture loose and her smile unfocused. An older man leaned far too close, his hand gripping her waist like he'd already decided she belonged to him. She swayed slightly, laughing at nothing.

Cold rage flooded Cross’s veins.

In that moment, a possessive hand touched his arm.
"Look at her. She just throws herself at anyone," Larissa said, shaking her head as if disappointed. "No one will ever care for you the way I do."

Anger burned within his chest. It coursed down his arm and made him want to choke her. Cross jerked away so fast it startled her. "Don't touch me."

Her eyes filled instantly. Tears she'd perfected long ago.
Pathetic and fake.

She hadn't changed at all.

Cross didn't spare her another glance. He crossed the remaining distance in seconds and ripped the strangers hand off Clara, twisting it hard enough to make him yell.
"Hands off her."

"Hey-!" the man snapped. "Find another girl, kid."

"She's mine. And she's under the influence, you piece of shit."

The man sneered. "Didn't seem like it when she came onto me."

Ego wounded, the man stood, shoving Cross backward, but he barely managed to nudge him an inch. And Cross would've let it go if he'd just walked away. But when he reached for Clara again, something in him snapped.

His fist connected with the man's face, sending him crashing to the floor. Cross followed, vision red, fists flying-every strike fueled by the thought of this stranger touching her

"Hey! Break it up!"

Security swarmed them. One moment Cross was over the man, the next his arms were yanked behind his back. Blood spilled from the strangers nose as he groaned on the floor.

Cross reigned himself in. Clara needed him.

She stood nearby, eyes glassy, and body tilting dangerously to the side.

"Search the girl in the blue dress," Cross hissed. "She's carrying drugs. That guy was trying to take advantage."

A guard followed his line of sight to Larissa. She was staring at the whole scene, mouth opened and completely frozen.

"Ma'am," one of them said. "We need to search your purse."

Larissa recoiled "How dare you! This is an invasion of privacy!"

"When you checked in to this hotel you agreed to our policies. We're allowed to search bags under questionable circumstances."

Moments later, a small baggy was pulled from her purse.
Her face drained of color.

Cross was released immnediately. He crossed the distance and caught Cross just as she tipped forward, lifting her easily into his arms.

"Cross! You're here!" she cheered, clapping her hands and ogling him like he's her favorite person in the world.

After answering security's questions and giving them his number, they let him leave.

Larissa was escorted away, her frantic protests echoing behind them. Cross didn't look back once.

"Let's go dance!" Clara declared happily.

"Nope. Party's over," he said firmly.

Despite having her in his arms, and hearing her soft voice say incoherent mumblings, rage simmered underneath.

What if Hilary hadn't told him? What if he'd been a minute late? The thought made his hands shake.

"Where are we?" Clara asked, looking around his suite in wonder.

Cross carefully placed her feet on the floor. "In my room."

"You're soooooo nice!" She cooed, giving him a dreamy smile.

Soft fingers cupped his face, caressing him, and unfairly soothing him to the point he leaned further into them. He loved when she touched him like this. Then, she kissed him. A quick, clumsy peck that somehow made his heart squeeze.

Cross gaped. It took drugs for her to be affectionate?

She wandered towards the bathroom light like a moth finding the brightest thing. On her way, she bumped into a dresser and pat around it like she was amazed it was there in the first place.

"Oh! Sorry I hit you!" she apologized, looking down at the unanimated wood.

Cross laughed. He went to her and made her sit on his bed.

"Alright. Shoes off before you break something." It's took him a minute to work on the straps, but once the heels were off she gave a blissful sigh.

"That feels amazing."

Cross tapped her calf, pointing to the bed.

"You know babe, I expected you to say that under
different circumstances." Clara giggled, crawling under the covers. Cross shook his head. Without a doubt she'd have no recollection of this tomorrow.

While she buried herself beneath the sheets, Cross changed into sweats and joined her.

"Do you need to vomit? Do you need to pee?" he asked slowly.

Clara shook her head and wiggled to him, cuddling around him as though he were her human sized teddy bear.

"Absolutely not," Crossprotested, plucking her arms off his body. "You're staying on that side."

Strengthening his resolve, he wrapped a thick blanket around her, weaving it like a cocoon. He fluffed a pillow and placed it as a barrier between them.

"Aww why!" She pouted, and it made him smile because at least he knew she enjoyed being close to him.

"I’m a man," he said dryly. "Your body all over me doesn't help. Tonight is not the night for accidents."

Clara blinked at him, her gaze innocent and confused. Her rosy cheeks looked so sweet. He wanted to bite them.

Cross turned away. If he kept staring at her, he might undo everything he just did and bring her into his arms.

"But I want to cuddle!" she whined, shifting within the comstraints of the sheets.

He leaned over and kissed her cheek-once, twice,
three times. She squeaked when he bit her. They were irresistibly soft.

"Tomorrow baby."

She relaxed, and with a lazy smile, drifted off within seconds.

Cross stared at the ceiling, chest heavy. He hoped the hotel took the incident seriously and didn't let Larissa slip with excuses.

Clara's quiet breaths calmed him. She was safe. And for tonight, that was enough.



I woke up to a pounding headache.

I blinked several times, my vision swimming before settling into something familiar.

"Good morning, sunshine."

Good morning?

I turned towards the voice, meeting blue eyes and a bare chest. A lazy, smug smile curved his lips as he lounged beside me. With one hand behind his head, and the other flipping through TV channels, he looked like he belonged in a magazine cover.

"What happened last night?" I asked, my voice hoarse.

He glanced at me sideways, smirk deepening. "The better question is what didn't happen?"

My stomach dropped.

"I'm glad you finally found me irresistible enough to do all those dirty things with," he added smoothly. "I always knew there was a freak hidden inside there."

My eyes widened in horror.

"Oh no. Oh no." I shot upright. "Did we have sex?!"

Cross shrugged nonchalantly. "Did we?" He let the question hang. "What does it look like sweetheart? You got me totally naked."

My gaze traveled down his broad shoulders, sliding over his defined chest, then stopped abruptly at the blanket pooled at his waist.

"You're just joking," I stammered.

He had to be. There's no way I would do this.

"I’m not? Why don't you check?" Cross suggested, casually flipping to another channel.

"You're not naked," I insisted.

"If that helps you sleep at night, by all means believe that sweetheart."

My heart hammered as I grabbed the sheet and
yanked it down.

Red boxers.

Cross burst out laughing. "Gotcha!" He pulled me into his arms, crushing me against his chest. "You're ridiculous, Clara. Didn't you notice you were fully clothed?"

I peaked down and sure enough, the same red dress I wore the night before remained on me, ridden up from sleep.

I smacked his arm. "You're awful."

He patted my head. "It's okay. Your virginity is still intact, I made sure." His nose brushed my neck, voice dropping. "What good is my sex if you don't remember it?"

I shoved him away and assessed myself in the mirror. My hair was a mess, my dressed was wrinkled. If I left the room like this, it would look like the walk of shame.

"I’m borrowing your clothes," I announced, already digging through his drawers.

"Be my guest," he said lazily.

When I looked back, he was stretching-arms overhead, and muscles flexing in a way that should've been illegal. By the time he caught me staring it was too late to pretend otherwise.

He pat the empty part of his bed. "You're welcome to come back. I don't bite...much."

I slammed the door shut before he made any more innuendos.

A quick shower helped, but I still felt awful. I slipped into his sweats and one of his oversized shirts, completely swallowed by the fabric, but it was infinitely better than my dress. I combed my fingers through my hair, detangling it as best as I could.

The hotel's toothbrush was too small, but it got the job done. The face that stared back at me looked tired, faint shadows under my eyes.

When I stepped out, Cross's gaze roved over me. "You look like a girl-friend, my girlfriend" he said approvingly, looking pleased I was wearing his things. opened my mouth to respond, and immediately winced as pain shot through my skull.

"Ugh."

Cross was up in seconds, scooping me and carrying me back to bed.

"Just rest," he ordered softly. His hands were warm, easing me beneath the covers.

"What about breakfast?" I asked weakly.

"I ordered room service while you were showering," he replied. "Rest."

I relaxed as he disappeared into the bathroom, flipping through channels absentmindedly. At some point, I lifted the collar of his shirt to my nose, breathing in his scent. When the bathroom door opened, I dropped the fabric and pretended to watch TV.

Cross emerged, barefoot and in sweatpants, still wearing no shirt whatsoever. My eyes followed him.

"You're not sleeping?" he asked. "Food won't be here for another forty minutes."

"I’m tired but I'm not sleepy" I admitted.

The bed dipped at Cross's weight. He inched his way to me, and before I knew it there was a hand brushing stray hairs away from my face.

"I was really worried about you last night," he said quietly.

Somehow, my hands ended up on his cheeks. I realized he lifted it himself and placed them there.

"What happened?" I asked.

The last I remembered was going to the bathroom, then some interaction with Larissa. After that things became hazy; I didn't have much to go by except blurry images that didn't make sense

Beneath my hand, his jaw clenched. "Larissa drugged you. I got to you before some creep took advantage." Guilt burned through me.

"I was careless. I'm sorry," I murmured.

He pulled me over him into a hug so tight it stole my breath. His chest radiated heat; I felt as though I were hugging the sun itself.

"Don't scare me like that again. I had to punch him."

My head snapped up. "You what?!"

"He deserved it," Cross said calmly. "And his reflexes sucked."

I groaned. "What happened after?"

"Security searched Larissa's bag and found white pills," his voice hardened. "They'll test them to see what it is."

I sank back into him, exhaustion finally settling in.

"Thank you for saving me," I said softly. Then, attempting lightness, "You just started liking me and already you've had to save me twice."

His arms around me stiffened.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

He pulled back just enough for me to see his face. "Do you really think I only like you?"

Before I could respond, the air whooshed from my lungs as our positions reversed. He braced himself above me, irritation flickering across his features.

"Do I need to spell it out for you? It feels like nothing I do ever translates."

"Cross,"

"I don't even know when my feelings started," he cut in. "I don't trust girls, but you're one of the few exceptions. Even when I was messy, I knew I cared about you, and I hated the thought of you with anyone else. Enough to change if that's what it took to keep you by my side.”

"I’ve told you things I've never told anyone. And now all I want is to be with you. I'm in love with you. And I'll wait until you feel the same."

My heart softened. "I care about you. And you know I love you, I just want want us to grow first. To let this become something solid before we...get married."

Something flickered in his expression-then he broke into the widest grin. "Wait. You said when we get married?"

"If. If we get-oomph!"

He smushed me into him, his body moving in that ridiculous, celebratory way he always did after a big win.

"Too late," he said smugly. "You said what you said."

I giggled until suddenly, something stiff pressed my thigh.

"W-what is that!" I squeaked.

Cross kept his eyes closed, pushing his cheek against my hand like a pet who didn't want to stop being petted.

"You know what it is. You make me excited."

"But it's touching my leg!"

"Would you like for it to touch somewhere else?"

"No!"

"So let him spread his wings and stretch wherever he wants to." Cross opened his eyes, they were amused. "Relax. You know I'll wait for you."

He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, and I rested in his protective embrace. Our relationship was unexpected, but I knew one thing for certain; I was safe with him.

Who would've thought? Once upon a time, I considered myself not his type and now we couldn't get enough of each other and frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way.



Cross's POV
The cue stick felt like a lead pipe in my hand. I slammed the white ball, watching it crack against the racked set with a violence that made Theodore whistle. I didn't care about the game. I didn't care about the music or the fact that David was currently howling like a hyena because he’d just sunk three balls in a row.

​My skin felt tight. It was a physical itch, a buzzing under my surface that only happened when the air around me lacked the specific scent of vanilla that followed Clara everywhere.

​I checked my watch. Six minutes.

​She’d been gone for six minutes. To anyone else, that was a blink. To me, it was an eternity of scenarios playing out in my head, scenarios where she tripped, where someone cornered her, where she realized she was too good for a guy like me and decided to walk out the door without looking back.

What was actually wrong with me?

​"Your turn, lover boy," David shouted, leaning over the table.

​"Pass it to Theodore," I clipped, handing the stick over without looking at it.

​I stepped away from the table, my eyes scanning the room. The lights splintered across the dance floor, shards of neon cutting through the dark, but none of them landed on her. The atmosphere was supposed to be jubilant, a celebration of surviving another week, but I felt like I was standing in the middle of a minefield.

​I’d been irritable all day. I knew it. She knew it. The truth was, being around her was starting to feel like a slow-motion car crash. I was obsessed. Every time she left the room, I felt like the floor was being pulled out from under me and i just wanted to run along following her and wagging my tail like a lovestruck puppy.. When I showed her affection, when I tried to pull her into my space and mark her as mine and then she goes and ooks at me with those wide, innocent eyes that made me feel like I was doing too much. Like I was a monster trying to cage a bird.

​Her first boyfriend... right, I thought, the words a bitter-sweet mantra in my head. She was my first too. But even still I had to be careful. I had to be the guy she could trust, not the guy who scared her off with the sheer weight of his need.

​Ughhhh, but six minutes was too long.

​"Where is she?" I muttered, my thumb swiping over my lower lip. The veins in my arms were standing out, my pulse thrumming a heavy, syncopated rhythm.

​"Did you know your girl went off to talk to Larissa?"

​The voice was like a bucket of ice water over my head. I spun around to see Hilary standing there, looking bored and unimpressed.

​My blood turned to liquid fire. "Where?"

​"Other side of the hotel. The quiet bar. They looked like they were having a real heart-to-heart."

​I didn't wait for her to finish. I shouldered my way through the crowd, my movements jerky and dangerous. People tried to say hi, tried to hand me drinks, but I didn't see them. All I saw was the image of Larissa, that snake, that mistake from my past whispering poisons into Clara’s ear or even worse, doingsomethingto hurt her..

​
​I reached the secondary bar, the noise of the party fading into a muffled thrum. It was a place for hotel guests and old men with too much money and not enough shame.
​And there she was.

​My heart stopped.

​Clara was sitting on a low lounge couch, but she wasn't the Clara I knew. Her posture was loose, her head lolling slightly to the side. She was smiling at nothing, her eyes glassy and unfocused under the dim amber lights.
​And then I saw the hand.

​A man, who was clearly older, greasy, wearing a suit that cost more than my car had his hand clamped firmly on her waist. He was leaning in, his face inches from hers, whispering something that made her let out a high, giggling laugh. She swayed toward him, her body tilting dangerously, completely unaware of the predator she was leaning into.

​A cold, jagged rage flooded my veins. It wasn't the kind of anger that made you scream; it was the kind that made you silent. The kind that turned your vision red at the edges.

​"Look at her," a voice hissed next to me.

​I didn't have to turn to know it was Larissa. She was standing there, watching the scene with a disgusted smirk, her eyes tracking every move that stranger made on Clara.

​"She just throws herself at anyone, Cross," Larissa whispered, her hand sliding onto my arm in a possessive grip that made my skin crawl. "No one will ever care for you the way I do. You see now? She's just like the rest of them."

​The rage in my chest boiled over. I jerked my arm away so fast Larissa stumbled back, her eyes filling with those practiced, fake tears she’d used a thousand times to get her way.

​"Don't touch me," I growled, my voice sounding like it was coming from the bottom of a grave. "And don't you ever say her name again."

​I didn't spare her another second. I crossed the remaining distance in three strides. I didn't say a word to the man. I just reached down, grabbed his wrist, and twisted.

​The sound of his yell was the most satisfying thing I’d heard all night. I ripped his hand off her waist with enough force to hear his shoulder pop.

​"Hands off her," I said, my voice vibrating with the effort not to kill him right there.

​"Hey!" the man snapped, clutching his wrist as he stood up. He was taller than I thought, but he was soft. He looked at me like I was a fly he could swat away. "Find another girl, kid. This one’s enjoying herself."

​"She's mine," I said, stepping between him and Clara. I felt her lean into the small of my back, her forehead resting against my spine. She was warm, but she was vibrating. "And she's under the influence, you piece of shit. What did you put in her drink?"

​The man sneered, his ego wounded in front of the few people watching. "Didn't seem like it when she came onto me. Maybe she just prefers a man who knows what he’s doing."

​Something in me snapped, and I didn't even know when my fist connected with his jaw before he could finish his next sentence. The impact echoed in the quiet bar. He went down hard, his head bouncing off the carpeted floor.

I didn't stop. I followed him down, my fists flying in a rhythmic, brutal blur. Every strike was for the way he touched her. Every strike was for the look in her eyes.
​"Hey! Break it up!"

​Security swarmed me. Two guards grabbed my shoulders, yanking me back, but I fought them, my boots skidding on the floor as I tried to get one more hit in.
Blood was spilling from the guy’s nose, and he was groaning, curled into a ball.

​"Search the girl in the blue dress!" I roared at the guards, pointing a trembling finger at Larissa, who was frozen by the bar. "She drugged her! She's got the baggy in her purse! Look at her! Look at my girlfriend!"

​I stopped fighting when I saw Clara. She had tried to stand up but was now tilting dangerously to the side, her eyes rolling back.

​"Ma'am," a guard said, moving toward Larissa.

​The rest was a blur of frantic protests and the satisfying sight of a small baggy being pulled from Larissa’s expensive clutch. They released me immediately. I didn't wait for an apology. I didn't wait for the man on the floor to get up.

​I caught Clara just as her knees gave out.

​"Cross! You're here!" she cheered, her voice high and melodic, completely devoid of its usual sharp intelligence. She clapped her hands, looking up at me like I was a superhero in a movie.

​"I'm here, baby. I've got you.”

​I lifted her into my arms, her weight familiar and terrifyingly light. She was like glass, something I could break if I held too tight, but something I couldn't let go of if I wanted to keep it whole.

​I gave the security my number and a brief, clipped statement. I didn't care about the legalities. I just wanted to take her away from this place.

​"Let's go dance!" she declared, her head falling back against my shoulder as I carried her through the lobby.

​"Nope. Party's over," I said firmly.

​The rage was still there, simmering under my skin. My hands were shaking, not from fear, but from the sheer adrenaline of the fight. What if I hadn't found her? What if Hilary hadn't said anything? The thought made my stomach flip. I had failed her. I had let her go to the bathroom alone in a place full of snakes.

​I bypassed the elevators and took her straight to my suite. I needed to get her in my space.

​"Where are we?" she asked, her eyes wide as I kicked the door shut.

​"In my room, Clara." I placed her feet on the floor, but I didn't let go of her waist. She swayed, her hands coming up to cup my face.

​"You're soooooo nice!" she cooed, giving me a dreamy, lopsided smile. Her thumbs caressed my cheeks, and the touch was so unfairly soothing that the rage began to bleed out of me. I leaned into her palms, closing my eyes for a second.

​And then, she kissed me.

​It was a quick, clumsy peck, smelling faintly of the drink Larissa had used to trap her. My heart squeezed in a way that was almost painful.

​I gaped at her. "It took drugs for you to be this affectionate?"

​She didn't answer. She wandered toward the bathroom light like a moth, bumping into the dresser with a soft thud.

​"Oh! Sorry I hit you!" she apologized to the wood, her voice sincere.

​I couldn't help it. I laughed. A short, breathless sound that finally broke the tension in my chest. I walked over and guided her to the bed, making her sit down.

​"Alright. Shoes off before you break an ankle." I knelt at her feet, my fingers working the thin straps of her heels. It took a minute, my hands were still trembling but once they were off, she let out a long, blissful sigh.

​"That feels amazing."

​"You know, babe," I said, tapping her calf and pointing to the bed. "I expected you to say that under different circumstances."

​She giggled, a sound that made me want to tuck her away and never let her see the world again. I watched her crawl under the covers, burying herself in the white sheets. She wouldn't remember a second of this tomorrow.

​I changed into my sweats, my mind racing. I wanted to hold her. I wanted to pull her against my chest and feel her heartbeat until I knew she was okay. But I knew the rules. I knew she was vulnerable.

​I joined her on the bed, but when she tried to wiggle toward me, I plucked her arms off my body.

​"Absolutely not," I protested, my voice dry. "You're staying on that side, CJ.”

​"Aww, why!" she pouted, her rosy cheeks making her look so sweet I wanted to bite them.

​"Because I’m a man, Clara. And your body all over me right now? It doesn't help. Tonight is not the night for accidents. You aren't in your right mind, and I’m not going to take advantage of that."

​I wrapped a thick blanket around her, weaving it like a cocoon until she was tucked in tight. I placed a pillow between us, a physical barrier against my own lack of self-control.

​"But I want to cuddle!" she whined, shifting within the constraints of the sheets.

​I leaned over and kissed her cheek, once, twice, three times. I nipped at the soft skin near her ear, and she squeaked, a sound that finally let me relax.

​"Tomorrow, baby. I promise."

​I didn't sleep. I spent the night staring at the ceiling, listening to the rhythmic, quiet breaths of the girl next to me.

​By the time the sun started crawling over the horizon, I was sitting up, lounging against the headboard with a bare chest and a smug smile. I was so looking forward to teasing her socks off, but I still wanted her to wake up and see me, to see that I was there, that she was safe, and that I wasn't going anywhere.

​"Good morning, sunshine," I said, my voice smooth as silk as I flipped through the TV channels.

​She blinked, her vision swimming before she finally locked onto me. "What happened last night?"

​I glanced at her sideways, the smirk deepening. I wanted to see that flash of fire in her eyes that told me she was back. "The better question is what didn't happen?"

​I watched her stomach drop.

​"I’m glad you finally found me irresistible enough to do all those dirty things with," I added, leaning back. "I always knew there was a freak hidden inside there."

​Her eyes widened in horror. "Oh no. Oh no. Did we have sex?!”

​I shrugged, letting the silence stretch until her face was as red as her dress. "Did we? What does it look like, sweetheart? You got me totally naked."

​I watched her gaze travel down my shoulders, sliding over my chest, stopping at the blanket.

​"You're just joking," she stammered.

​"I’m not. Why don't you check?"

​She grabbed the sheet and yanked it down. When she saw the red boxers, I burst out laughing. I couldn't help it. The look on her face was worth it. I pulled her into my arms, crushing her against my chest, ignoring the way she smacked my arm.

​"Gotcha! You're ridiculous, Clara. Didn't you notice you were still in your dress?"

​"You're awful," she muttered, but she didn't pull away.

​"It's okay. Your virginity is still intact, I made sure." I brushed my nose against her neck, my voice dropping an octave. "What good is my sex if you don't remember it? I want you awake for that, CJ. I want you screaming my name, not asking me what happened the next morning."

​She shoved me away and ran for the bathroom, and I spent the next twenty minutes stretching on the bed, feeling the pull of my muscles, feeling the victory of the night before. When she came out wearing my sweats and an oversized shirt, looking like a girl who belonged to me,

I felt a surge of pride so strong it made my head spin.
​"You look like my girlfriend," I said, approving of the way my clothes swallowed her.

​But then she winced, her hand going to her head. "Ugh."
​I was up in a second. I scooped her up and carried her back to the bed. I didn't care about breakfast. I didn't care about anything but the fact that she was hurting.

​"Just rest," I ordered, tucking her in.

​The food came and went, but the atmosphere in the room stayed heavy. We were lying there, her head on my chest, my hand stroking her hair.

​"I was really worried about you last night," I said quietly, the words feeling like stones in my throat.

​She reached up, her hands landing on my cheeks. I realized I had guided them there without even thinking about it. I needed her touch to feel real.

​"What happened?" she asked.

​I told her. I told her about Larissa. I told her about the man. I told her about the punch that had probably broken his nose. And I watched the guilt burn through her.

​"I was careless. I'm sorry," she murmured.

​I pulled her into a hug so tight I could feel her ribs. "Don't scare me like that again. I had to punch him, Clara. I almost didn't stop."

​She groaned, burying her face in my neck. "Thank you for saving me. You just started liking me and already you've had to save me twice."

​The words hit a nerve I didn't know I had. I pulled back, my arms stiffening.

​"What's wrong?" she asked, her voice small.

​"Do you really think I only like you?" I asked, the irritation flickering across my face. I reversed our positions, bracing myself above her, looking down into those eyes that still didn't seem to understand the gravity of what was happening between us.

​"Do I need to spell it out for you? It feels like nothing I do ever translates, Clara. You think this is a game? You think I’m just 'liking' a girl?"

​"Cross…"

​"I don't even know when my feelings started," I cut in, the words pouring out of me like a dam breaking. "I don't trust people. I definitely don't trust girls. But you... you're the only exception I’ve ever made. Even when I was a messy, I knew I cared about you. I hated the thought of you with anyone else. Enough to change if that's what it took to keep you by my side.”

​I looked at her, my heart thudding against my ribs like a trapped animal. "I’ve told you things I've never told anyone. And now all I want is to be with you. I'm in love with you. And I'll wait until you feel the same."

​The silence in the room was absolute. I watched her heart soften, watched the way her eyes filled with a light that made all the fighting, all the jealousy, and all the sleepless nights worth it.

​"I care about you," she whispered. "And you know I love you, Cross. I just want us to grow first. To let this become something solid before we... get married."

​I froze. My brain stalled on that last word. Married.
​A grin broke across my face, a wide, stupid, victorious grin that I couldn't suppress. "Wait. You said when we get married?"

​"If! If we get…oomph!"

​I smushed her into me, my body moving in a ridiculous, celebratory wiggle. I’d won. I’d won the only game that mattered.

​"Too late," I said, my voice smug and full of the future. "You said what you said. It’s on the record, CJ."

​She giggled, the sound vibrating against my chest, until she felt the shift in my body.

​"W-what is that!" she squeaked, her face turning bright red.

​I kept my eyes closed, pushing my cheek against her hand. I felt like a lion being tamed by a kitten. "You know what it is. You make me excited. Deal with it."

​"But it's touching my leg!"

​"So let him spread his wings and stretch wherever he wants to," I said, opening one eye to see her look of pure, innocent confusion. I laughed, kissing her forehead.

"Relax, baby. You know I’ll wait for you. But don't think for a second I’m letting you go now."

​I pulled her back into my arms, the weight of her body against mine finally feeling like peace.

_________________________________________________
A/N: And with that..., we have come to the end of this love story.😭 I miss them alreadyyyyy

I also didn't initially add Cross's Pov in first person to any part of the story but my lovely lady and biggest supporter asked me to try it out that you guys might enjoy it, but i'm not really sure about tgat since i myself hate it but you guys let me know in the comments what you think..

I kind of considered making writing this chapter as one where Clara looses her virginity to Cross butttt if you think about it, it won't be right because she has said she was saving herself (not necessarily for marriage but you get the gist) so them having sex won't be so realistic and also a little wrong if we're being honest, our boy is just going to have to wait till she's really ready.

I'm also considering writing a sequel of them in college but that just truly depends on how well this book does sooo please support, like comment, add or subscribe (which ever one is available on your reading app)

I'm also thinking of writing extras as well so tell me in the comments who and what you want to see in the extras...

And finally to everyone who has read, liked, added, subscribed or supported this book in any way I want you to know that I mean it when I say i love love love love you all downnnn!!!

Keep being amazing!❤️