I swipe my hand through my hair, wanting to pull it out at the roots to keep from shouting. “You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever been tempted with, and I’m sorry I didn’t act the way you wanted me to, but I had a fucking reason. A reason you don’t understand. So stop acting all high and mighty like you’re the only one put out by us. I have feelings for you, and it’s mind numbingly irritating. At least I’m admitting it, not putting closed doors between us. At least I’m not running from us like a coward.”

“I’m not a coward!” Winter stomps her foot like a petulant child. The cutest, most adorably petulant child.

“No? Then be brave, beautiful girl. What do you want?”

Winter’s eyes search the walls of the hallway for answers, knowing she’ll only find them in her heart. Her fists clench and release, a sign she’s examining her feelings, I’ve learned.

“What do you want, Winter?” I urge, wanting to charge toward her, but my feet stay rooted to the marble floors, letting Winter decide for herself.

Her eyes lift to mine, and her lips part. My stomach’s a fucking knot, waiting for her to answer. Because I know myself enough to know, if she doesn’t take a stand for us now, I’ll walk. And I don’t want to.

“Everything,” she whispers, the word leaving her lips in a wave. A small gust, like a breeze. It travels, dancing its way into my ears, and before I can process it, she’s walking my way.

I take two large strides toward her, grabbing her face when I reach her. She wraps her arms around my waist, pulling me into her body by my lower back, and I crash my lips onto hers. Coconut, vanilla, and fucking passion flood my senses. Winter’s fingers dig into the muscles in my sides while my tongue invades her mouth like I’m trying to feel her tonsils with it. She pushes at my chest, but I lean forward, not ready to part with her mouth.

“Aleck,” she breathes into our kiss.

I pull my lips from hers, swiping my tongue across her teeth before we separate.

“What you said to Hayden…” she says, her tone holding sincerity that clamps a vise around my chest. “You hurt me.”

“I know,” I say, pressing my forehead to hers.

“Your words hurt me.”

“I know they did, Winter.” I dig my fingers into the side of her face, hating myself for making her feel that way. For dragging her into the endless clusterfuck of my relationship with Hayden.

Her eyes gloss over mine, sending a plea to be gentle with her heart. “Don’t do it again.”

I shake my head. “I won’t.” I kiss the tip of her nose, her eyelids, then her lips softly. “What is it about you that keeps me coming back for more when I can’t even stand ninety-eight percent of the world’s population?”

She smiles into my lips. “I don’t put up with your shit.”