Athena

44. Selfish

Cruz wants us to stay together?

For good?

I breathe out in awe, "You really mean it?"

He nods. "I do."

I clutch at my chest. "Please don't fuck with me. My heart won't be able to take it."

"I'm dead serious about this shit."

Cruz's confession fills me with amazement. I'm rendered speechless. I can't believe that he's willing to apply to colleges on the east coast for Persie and me. I'm stunned that he cares so much. Fuck, it feels impossible that anyone would ever care this much about me. Yet, Cruz has somehow made the impossible—possible. The warmest, sweetest glow envelopes my heart. He has sent me over the moon with his words, and I don't ever want to come back down to earth again.

I can't contain my joy.

Feelings of celebration and happiness burst out of me as I practically pounce on Cruz, wrapping my arms around his shoulders to kiss him with everything I've got. I pour all of my gratitude and admiration and adoration into this one kiss. Our lips and tongues can't seem to get enough of each other. He groans and pulls me flush against his chest, deepening our connection. My mind spins with pleasure. My heart hammers away. We kiss until the world fades out, and our troubles become no more. We kiss until everything feels good and right and perfect between us.

When I finally pull away to catch my breath, I whisper in faint, emotional tones, "Thank you so much, Cruz. You came into my life when I needed you most, and I started liking you without even trying. With you, I feel at peace with everything that hurts inside. I don't deserve you, but I'm gonna fight for us, and, together, we're gonna get away from assholes like your dad and Chrissa and Brody and live out our best lives after graduation. Okay?"

"Sounds like a plan," Cruz murmurs with a smile.

Our eyes lock in the dark. I've never felt closer to another person.

Emotionally.

Mentally.

Physically.

Heat flares between our bodies. Desire seethes like a slow burn boiling over. Suddenly, more than anything, I want to finish what we started in my room.

Right now.

On his bed.

I start raining kisses along Cruz's jawline, down the slope of his neck, across his bare muscled chest. Small, sensual details flood my senses. The feel of his skin on my lips. The scent of him. Clean, woodsy, fresh.

Then, I go lower.

Lower.

Lower still.

My gaze doesn't waver from his eyes in the dark. Cruz remains silent, but he doesn't stop me. My guy looks as though he's holding his breath, watching my every movement with keen anticipation.

I position myself between Cruz's legs and smile at him, tugging suggestively at the waistband of his joggers.

Softly, I hum, "Did you wanna go to sleep or⁠—"

He doesn't let me finish.

"Or," Cruz chooses right away as he pulls off his pants and boxers. "Sleep is fucking overrated."

I bite back a giggle at his eagerness. I don't feel as apprehensive about what we're about to do. Not like before. I know where I stand with Cruz now. I know I matter to him.

I know I'm ready to make him lose his fucking mind.

As Cruz tosses his boxers aside, his dick rises to greet me. Lightly, I wrap my fingers around the base, coaxing a happy grunt from Cruz, and give him a few slow, unhurried up-and-down tugs along his solid, heavy length. Then, I lean over to kiss my way down the left side of his V-line. Then, the right side. Cruz's breaths quicken. I'm teasing him like he teased me. His cock pulses in my hand. It doesn't take long for a tiny dew of precum to appear at the tip.