Temptation 2: Forgiving You ✔️

36: Forever

After leaving Damon's place, I felt so bad. My entire brain was filled with sadness, and guilt, but there was no regret. I loved them both, Christian and Damon. Trust me I still do, so I don't regret any of my time with either of them. But he was right, Nate is the love of my life. For so long I knew how I felt, but I could never explain it. A fire that burned in my soul, a candle that had never gone out. I was his peace, and he was my home.

As we pulled up to his house, I remained quiet. I didn't want to talk about it, let alone speak at all. I needed to sit in my head and understand everything.

I step out of the car and weakly smile at him as he takes my bags from me. This gives me flashbacks from the night Christian and I broke up, and Nate let me stay at his place. The memories of that night replay in my head. The night we..

"Are you gonna come in?" He says to me, standing at the open door with his eyebrow lifted. I look around before turning back to him and walking up to the door, "Yeah I just..spaced out a little.."

Things felt different now. I wasn't coming to him because I was having relationship issues, I was here because for once in my entire life I had finally gotten to the point where I needed to be, with him.

"You changed a few things around.." I say looking around at the living room. The couch was moved in a different spot closer to the fireplace, and the pictures were rearranged on the walls as well as the tables.

"Yeah," He said making his way to the staircase, "I just wanted to make things home comfortable for you. I had Kol do it actually, only because I really didn't have the time to myself."

I smile gently, lowering my head, "You didn't have to do that."

"Kind of did, you can be kind of clumsy sometimes."

I laugh and press my lips together before sighing, "I guess you could say that," She said soon following him up the bedroom.

To her surprise everything was clean, it was shocking to her only because most of the time everything would usually be all over the place. "We can change a few things. Buy some stuff to make you feel more..at home." He said while sitting the bags on the bed and glancing down at me. "I just want you to feel safe here.

"Hey," My hands lock themselves around the back of his neck, "I do feel safe. I have you, and Kol as my entertainment. He could probably teach me a few things, video games, sports."

Nate laughs softly, lacing his arms around my waist, "Yeah he's not really the athletic type."

"Well we can make everything work around here," I say before lightly rubbing his cheek with the pad of my thumb, leaning in and softly kissing him.

"We'll be fine..I'll be fine." I assure him and he nods.

"Okay, just if anything you know you can—"

"I think I just wanna sleep." I tell him. "

His lips part, and he nods. "Right right yeah, I'm just gonna go downstairs really quick and grab a few things. Probably just wait up for Kol until he gets back from his Mates house."

"Yeah, take your time.." I say before moving my hands down, grabbing ahold of his as he intertwines our fingers together before backing away to the door and letting go.

—

The next morning had hit me differently. When I woke up I was undressed, and in one of Nates shirts... Nate however, nowhere to be found. It had been one of the first nights I had in a while where waking up didn't feel so unbearable. Being at Damon's house gave me a similar feeling, but this was a lot more different, I felt happier.

I make my way downstairs, the smell of food hitting my nose only making me pick up my speed to the kitchen. I peak around the corner, holding my hand onto the width of the doorframe while watching him cook. I didn't want to interrupt him, only because he seemed so at peace in the state he was in, and that's how I wished he could feel at most times...

Happy, and at peace.

I walk behind him quietly, placing my arms around his waist and greeting him with a kiss on the cheek, "Morning." I say softly, embracing the warmth of his bare skin. Nate turns his head over his shoulder, a small smile on his face before looking forward again, "You like eggs right? I didn't want to give you anything you didn't eat."

I shrug my shoulders, "Eggs, bacon..practically anything." For a moment, It comes to my memory. "Also..my parents friends are having a dinner at six later today, do you wanna come?"

Nate placed the spatula onto the counter top and lowered the heat before turning around facing me, his arms folding. "You want me to meet your parents?"

"Well—" I pause for a moment, not exactly saying that but a part of me wanting him to. My parents are pretty nice people..I haven't really told them much about Nate but whether they approve of him or not it wouldn't change anything.

"I mean I don't know if they'll be there or not..would you want to?" I ask him, lightly moving my hands through the back of his hair. The last thing I want is for him is to feel uncomfortable with meeting them, let alone my brother as well.

"Yeah..can't be as bad as you meeting mines right?"

I nervously laugh, scared at the thought of meeting them, "Yeah..I guess you're right."

"Speaking of parents..have you gotten the chance to meet your biological parents" He asks me. Ah..yeah the famous Rob and Evelyn. For a moment I forgot they even existed, hell they probably forgot I did too.

I shake my head, "No..not even close. I've wanted to but, it's been so much going on I haven't even gotten the chance to ask my mom to help me contact them."

"Ah..well If you want me to go with you to meet them, you know I don't mind right? The last thing there I want is for you to go through this alone."

Maybe I was wrong about him. Wrong about the fact that he didn't change. Since we started dating it's like he's been trying to stay on my good side. Now that I've got him..I couldn't just let him go, not after all we've been through.

"I love you." I simply tell him, "I'm not just saying this in the heat of the moment or because you've been so good to me..I mean it."

His eyes soften as his hand moves close to my cheek, moving the hair behind my ear as he looked me directly in my own orbs. "You...Leah Banks, are the best thing that's ever happened to me.." His lips, soft and gentle, are placed against mines as his grip on my waist soon increases.

As he pulls away, he placed another kiss on my forehead, "I love you too."

"Always?" I ask him.

The corners of his lips turn inwards, "As long as forever is."

-

AUTHORS NOTE

HI BABIES! I missed you guys! I apologize for my absence and my late updates. I've been working, doing school, which thankfully is over now for me! I'm officially a senior in my final year of high school! Temptation is almost 4 years old and I'm so happy that you guys have stuck with me through these books! I'm happy to say that this book will have a total of 40 chapters, and there will be a THIRD book which will be a lot more in depth and crazier than this one! I love you guys so much; and I promise to try my best to update more really soon! Enjoy reading !

QOTD: Do you think Leah made the right choice by choosing Nate?