Chapter 39
Tessa
It’s quiet when we get back.
Too quiet.
The kind of quiet that doesn’t feel peaceful—
It feels empty.
Like something loud should still be happening.
Like my body hasn’t caught up to the fact that it’s over.
The others move around us.
Low voices.
Gear being set down.
Doors opening and closing.
Normal sounds.
But none of it feels real.
Not yet.
Because my hands are still shaking.
Because my heart still hasn’t slowed down.
Because I can still see him—
Falling.
Gone.
“Tess.”
Ace’s voice.
Close.
Grounding.
I turn toward him.
And that’s it.
That’s all it takes.
The control I’ve been holding onto—
Slips.
“I’m okay,” I say automatically.
He doesn’t buy it.
Not for a second.
“Yeah,” he says softly. “Come here.”
I don’t hesitate.
I step into him.
And he catches me like he was already ready for it.
Like he knew.
His arms wrap around me, strong and steady, pulling me in against his chest.
One hand slides into my hair.
Holding.
Anchoring.
And I breathe.
Really breathe.
For the first time all night.
“I thought—” I start, but my voice breaks.
His grip tightens.
“I know,” he murmurs.
“I thought he was going to take me.”
“He didn’t.”
“I know but—” I swallow hard. “I felt it. That moment where I almost—”
“You didn’t,” he says again, firmer now. “You fought. You got free.”
I press my face into his chest.
“I didn’t do it alone.”
“No,” he agrees quietly. “You didn’t.”
A beat.
Then softer—
“You didn’t have to this time.”
And that—
That hits deeper than anything else.
Ace
She’s shaking.
Trying not to.
But I feel it.
Every small tremor.
Every uneven breath.
And it does something to me I don’t like.
Because I let her get that close.
I let him touch her.
I let it happen.
My jaw tightens.
“Tessa.”
She pulls back slightly, just enough to look up at me.
Her eyes are softer now.
Still heavy with everything that just happened—
But clearer.
Stronger.
“You okay?” I ask.
She huffs a quiet breath. “You keep asking me that.”
“Because I need to hear it.”
Her gaze lingers on mine.
Longer this time.
“I’m okay,” she says.
And this time—
I believe her.Silence stretches between us.
Not awkward.
Not tense.
Just…
Full.
Her hand is still gripping my shirt.
Like she hasn’t decided to let go yet.
I’m not about to be the one to make her.
My hand slides from her hair to her cheek.
Slow.
Careful.
Giving her time to pull away.
She doesn’t.
Her breath catches instead.
“Ace…”
That’s all she says.
But it’s enough.
More than enough.
I lean in.
Slow this time.
Giving her the choice.
Always her choice.
And when her lips meet mine—
It’s different.
Not desperate like before.
Not rushed.
This is deeper.
Softer.
But somehow more intense.
Like everything we didn’t have time to feel before—
Is finally catching up to us.
Her hand slides up my chest, gripping tighter as she presses closer.
And I let her.
God, I let her.
Because I need this too.
Need to know she’s here.
That she’s real.
That I didn’t lose her tonight.
My forehead rests against hers when we break apart.
Both of us breathing a little harder now.
“You scared me,” I admit quietly.
Her eyes soften.
“I know.”
A beat.
Then—
“I’m still here.”
Yeah.
She is.
And I’m not taking that for granted.
Not for a second.