So, I’d told her she couldn’t sleep in my bed ever again, and to put temptation further away, I’d moved in to the apartment my mom had once called home before she’d married my father. It was one floor below Theo and Tavia’s and big enough for two, so I’d let Garret move in with me, hoping that would make Nova less likely to be upset about the new living arrangements.

But not getting to see her all summer as I was used to had been literal hell for me. She was so close, but I didn’t trust myself to be around her. The little I did allow myself to see her, I always made sure we were never alone, because I knew I was too weak where she was concerned. All it would take was for her to give me that damn smile that lit me up inside, and I knew I would take things too far with her.

The physical distance was a necessity, but I couldn’t go more than a day without hearing her voice. We spoke every day, just regular calls since even the sight of her on video chats had the power to make my cock so hard I spent hours jerking it raw afterward. No matter how many times I got myself off, it was never enough.

One more year, I kept reminding myself. One more year and she would be eighteen. We would get married, and she would finally be mine. Just as I’d always promised myself she would be.

Although I’d never expected for things to turn out like this. When I’d made the vow to myself that Nova would one day be my wife, I’d never dreamed I would want her as much as I did. It was becoming an obsession, bordering on a sickness—this need to have her all to myself, locked away from everyone, including her own parents.

Only I could see her. Make her laugh. Hold her. Kiss her.

One more year and everything would fall into place as it should. Just 365 more days. I could withstand this body-bending agony for that long.

The three men she was standing with were talking, and then Elias leaned in, touching his lips to her cheek while looking right at me. Taunting me.

My door was open, and I was out of the SUV before either of my parents could remind me not to spill the motherfucker’s blood yet again.

Nova’s green eyes shot straight to mine, brightening as they always had in the past. But it only lasted for a few short seconds before the light within her dimmed. For the first time in the existence of Ryan and Nova, she didn’t run and throw herself into my arms. There were no sweet giggles filling the air as I swung her around, so happy to see her and hear the world’s most beautiful sound, the one I would do anything to make last longer.

Right before my eyes, she steeled herself, seeming to lock every muscle to keep from doing what her body craved.