“Tonight,” he promised. “After everyone leaves. My room this time. I want you in my bed.”
The back door creaked. We sprang apart just as Mia walked in for water.
“Everything okay in here?” she asked, smiling.
“Fine,” I said quickly. “Just… helping with the trash.”
Elias nodded smoothly. “Lots of boxes.”
Mia didn’t seem to suspect anything, but my heart pounded the rest of the night.
We left Tyler’s around ten. The walk home was quiet, Amina yawning between us. At the house she headed straight to bed.
Elias locked the front door, then turned to me in the dim hallway.
His arms came around me from behind, pulling me back against his chest. “Come to my room,” he whispered against my ear. “Let me hold you properly tonight. No rushing. Just us.”
I turned in his arms and nodded.
We move
