Luna’s POV
The weight of Ashton’s body hovering over me is a warm, solid reassurance, a physical anchor that grounds me completely in the present. In the dim, moonlit room, I can see the sharp line of his jaw, the dark intensity in his eyes, and the sheer, focused tenderness that dominates his expression. There is no trace of the hesitation that has kept us apart for the last seven days.
‘I love you,’ Ashton’s words are unexpected, and for a moment I still, staring up at him as he smiles shyly.
‘Ashton,’ I stammer hoarsely.
‘You don’t have to say it back, not if you don't want to,’ he continues, giving me an out that I didn’t know I wanted, ‘I just needed you to know . . .’
I swallow thickly, searching his face for some sign of . . . I don’t even know what, my throat refusing to work.
