She let out a shuddering breath. “Yes.”
“Then trust me on this.” I released her chin and tucked a lock of her copper hair behind her ear. My palm cupped her cheek gently as I brought my lips to hers in a searing kiss. I poured everything I felt for her into it, trying to tell her without words that I was hers, that nothing could come between us.
The moment was interrupted by a knock on the bathroom door.
“Danielle?” Nathaniel’s voice called through the wood.
She dropped her forehead onto my chest with a groan. “What?”
“Nova’s worried she upset you.”
“She didn’t upset me.”
“Open the door and tell me that to my face.”
“For goodness’ sake, Nate. You are so extra sometimes.”
“Not sure what that means, and I don’t really care. Open the door.”
She laid a hand on my chest. “Let me go. He’s not above taking the door off its hinges if we ignore him for too long.”
And people calledmecontrolling.
With reluctance, I let go of her and stepped back so she was no longer wedged between my body and the bathroom counter.
Nathaniel stood in the doorway with his arms crossed, and his green eyes moved past Danielle to me almost instantly.
“See?” Danielle said. “I’m fine.”
“Then why are you hiding in my bathroom?”
“The idea was to be able to talk without being interrupted.”
“About what?”
“Nate. Stop it. This is my life, and I don’t need your help living it.”
His gaze snapped back to her face. “Do you remember when I told you to tell me if anything changed?”
Danielle nodded.
“Has something changed?”
She nodded again. “I won’t be using the escape plan.”
“I figured.” He glared at me again. “You hurt her, and I’m going to kill you slowly and painfully.”
“Nate!” Danielle protested.
“It’s okay,” I said, not breaking eye contact with her brother. “If I hurt her, you have my permission.”
Nathaniel nodded once, and I thought I might have seen a hint of respect in his eyes. Then he turned and left without another word.
“Well, that was fun,” Danielle muttered.
“Did I pass the test?” I asked, wrapping my arms around her waist.
She let out a weak laugh. “Yeah, but Nate’s the easy one.”
