Chapter 45 Ava
Ava
He hasn’t really left.
Not once.
Even when he steps out, it’s only for a minute—two at most—before he’s back in the doorway, eyes on me like he’s checking I’m still here.
Like I might vanish if he looks away too long.
Part of me understands that.
The other part—
likes it more than I should.
I shift slightly on the bed.
Pain flares sharp across my side.
I suck in a breath, trying not to react—
too late.
“Easy.”
Of course he notices.
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not.”
I roll my eyes.
“Are you always like this?”
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
I let out a soft laugh.
“You weren’t before.”
His expression doesn’t change.
“I didn’t know what it felt like to lose you before.”
That hits.
Not sharp.
Not painful.
Just… deep.
My chest tightens in a completely different way.
I push myself up slightly.
His hand is there instantly.
Steadying me.
Firm.
Warm.
Familiar.
Like it belongs there.
“You’re hovering,” I point out.
“I’m making sure you don’t pass out again.”
“I’m not going to—”
The room tilts.
Just a little.
I stop talking.
Yeah.
Okay.
His grip tightens.
“Yeah,” he mutters. “That’s what I thought.”
I exhale.
“Don’t say anything.”
“I’m not.”
A beat.
“I’m definitely thinking it.”
I laugh again.
Soft.
Real.
God… I missed this.
Him.
Us.
My hand slides slowly up his arm.
Intentional.
Feeling the tension in him.
The way he stills under the touch.
Good.
I’m not the only one feeling this.
“You were saying something earlier,” I murmur.
His eyes lock onto mine.
“Yeah?”
“Before we were interrupted.”
Something shifts in his expression.
Memory flickering between us.
The almost.
The unfinished.
“You weren’t exactly in a state to continue that conversation.”
“I’m better now.”
Not entirely true.
But enough.
His hand settles at my waist.
Careful of the injury—
but firm.
Grounding.
“You should be resting.”
His voice drops.
Rougher now.
Less convincing.
I tilt my head slightly.
“Then stop looking at me like that.”
His eyes darken.
Slow.
Intentional.
“I’m not doing anything.”
“You are.”
A beat stretches between us.
Tight.
Charged.
Then—
he leans in.
Slow enough to stop.
Slow enough to give me the choice.
Always the choice.
I close the distance.
The kiss is softer this time.
Slower.
But deeper.
Full of everything we almost lost.
His hand tightens slightly at my side—
then eases.
Careful.
Always careful now.
My fingers slide into his hair, pulling him closer.
Not too gentle.
Not after everything.
We break just enough to breathe.
Foreheads resting together.
His breath warm against mine.
“Later,” he murmurs.
A small smile pulls at my lips.
“Yeah… later.”