Chapter 17—The Moment I Almost Crossed It

Ava's POV

I told myself I wasn't going to his house.

I told myself I was just going for a walk, just getting fresh air, just avoiding thinking about the way Noah looked at me when I said I'm not telling you to stop.

But my feet didn't listen. They took me straight across the yard. Straight up his steps. Straight to his door.

Before I could chicken out. I knocked.

The door opened almost instantly.

Noah stood there in a black t-shirt, hair slightly messy, eyes dark like he hadn't slept. His gaze swept over me slowly, deliberately, like he was trying to breathe me in.

"Ave," he said, voice low. "You shouldn't be here."

"I know," I whispered. "But I'm still here."

His jaw tightened like he'd just lost a fight with himself.

He didn't step back to let me in.

I stepped forward anyway.

We stood in the doorway, barely a foot between us, the world holding its breath.

"I needed to see you," I said softly.

Noah swallowed hard. "If you keep looking at me like that... I'm not going to be able to pretend I don't want you."

My pulse jumped. "Then don't pretend."

He let out a shaky breath and stepped back, pulling me inside and shutting the door behind us. The click of it echoed through me.

We were alone.

The house was quiet. Too quiet. His chest rose and fell like he was fighting every instinct he had.

The house was quiet. Too quiet. His chest rose and fell like he was fighting every instinct he had.

"Ava," he said again, softer now, rougher. "If we do this... I won't be able to stop."

I stepped closer until his back almost hit the wall. "I don't want you to stop."

His eyes closed for a second, like he was praying or cursing or both.

Then everything snapped.

Noah moved. One hand cupped the back of my neck, the other slid around my waist, pulling me into him with a force that stole my breath. His forehead rested against mine, his breath mingling with mine, warm and uneven.

"Tell me to back up," he whispered.

"I won't," I breathed.

His thumb brushed my jaw, slow, deliberate, sending a shiver down my spine.

"You're going to make this really hard for me," he murmured, his lips barely grazing my cheek—not kissing, just close enough to set every nerve on fire.

"Maybe I want to," I whispered.

He exhaled shakily.

Then he tilted my chin up.

Our lips hovered—just hovered—a breath apart, My heart wasn't beating right. I was sure he could feel it.

His nose brushed mine.

"God, Ava..." he whispered. "I've wanted to do this for so long."

"Then do it."

His lips touched mine.

Soft at first. Testing. Searching. Like he was learning me. Then deeper. Warmer. His hand slid to my waist, fingers curling slightly, pulling me flush against him.

Heat rushed through me so fast I almost forgot where we were.

He kissed me again—slower this time, more intense, like he was memorizing the shape of me with his mouth. His hand slid up my back, stopping just below my shoulder blade, holding me close in a way that made my knees weak.

I kissed him back, letting everything I'd been holding in pour out.

He broke away only for a breath—one single breath—his lip still brushing mine.

"This is bad," he whispered.

"I don't care."

He kissed me again—stronger, needier, like he'd finally given up trying to be good.

When he pressed me gently back against the wall, his forehead fell to my shoulder, his breath hot against my skin.

"Ava," he breathed, voice strained, "if we don't stop now... I won't be able to."

I ran my fingers through his hair, feeling him shiver under my touch.

"We don't have to stop," I whispered.

He groaned softly, like the words physically hurt him.

He lifted his head, eyes burning with something deep and hungry and terrifyingly real.

"I want you," he confessed, voice breaking. "More than I should."

Before I could answer--

A loud knock slammed against the front door.

We jumped apart.

Noah cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair.

"Who—?" I whispered.

Another knock. Louder. Then Jacob's voice:

"Noah. I know she's in there. Open the door."

My stomach dropped.

Noah looked at me—torn, breathless, wrecked with wanting—but he nodded toward the stairs.

"Go," he whispered. "Before this gets worse."

But as I moved, he caught my hand.

"Ava—this isn't over."

I squeezed his fingers.

"It never was."