“Why do I feel like there’s no going back after this?” he asks so softly I’m not sure he meant for me to hear.

I know what he’s asking, what he’s thinking, because I’m thinking it too, but I don’t answer him because I don’t know how. To be honest, I feel like we crossed that blurry line of ambiguity the night at his house when we fell asleep together on his couch. We’ve just been too ignorant to whatever the hell it is we’ve been doing ever since that night to admit the truth to ourselves. I reach up and grasp the back of his neck, pulling him closer. We’re so incredibly close. Two souls joined as one. Our closeness is like nothing I’ve ever experienced with anyone before—not even Nash—and it’s overwhelming to say the least, but nothing has ever felt so perfect, so right, so meant to be.

Neither of us so much as mutters another word. We don’t have to. Somehow, it’s as if we know exactly what the other wants and needs, and the silence between us only adds to the tension settling heavily in the air around us, ready to combust at any moment. I’ve never been so close to someone before this. Never been so consumed by one person. It’s just the two of us, as if the rest of the world has faded away and we’re all that remains.

With my arms wrapped around his neck to stop myself from crumbling, I feel tears prick at my eyes from the all-consuming emotion as Harley presses kisses to my jaw, trailing down my neck. It takes all of about twelve seconds until I’m falling apart in a way so spectacular, it’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced. Crying out, gasping for breath, I feel my entire body tremble. Harley holds me even tighter as he stills, and everything around us comes to an abrupt stop. Nothing but the sound of our breaths rings through the silence of the bedroom.

A whimper falls from his lips as he presses his lips to my neck, stifling his sounds as he reaches his high, and this time, I hold him as tight as I can until we both collapse together, exhausted, breathless, sweaty and obliterated.

I finally collect myself as best as I can, coming back down to earth, and I turn my head, meeting Harley’s heavily hooded eyes watching me, a sleepy smile pulling at his lips. He reaches out a trembling hand, tucking my hair behind my ear before gently sweeping the backs of his fingers over my flushed cheek, stopping at my lips. Tracing the curve of my Cupid’s bow with the pad of his thumb, he smiles again, moving in closer to press a chaste kiss to the very corner of my mouth. Pulling me into his strong arms, he kisses me again, claiming me as if I am his.

In that moment, as I begin to drift off into a contented, blissful slumber, I know, after this, nothing between us will ever be the same.