Falling Between the Notes (Nicholas Galitzine)

Chapter 32: Reclaiming Each Other

Jade's POV

The weight of the last few months, all the emotional turmoil, the heartbreak, the confusion—it felt like we'd finally started to pull ourselves out of that deep, dark place. Nick was sitting across from me, his eyes softer than I'd seen them in months. We had just shared a moment that felt like the most honest conversation we'd had since everything between us fell apart. It was raw, vulnerable, but also filled with something else—a sense of hope.

For the first time, I could feel the space between us closing. The anger, the doubt, the hurt that had lingered for so long was still there, yes, but it wasn't ruling us anymore. We were choosing to move forward, choosing each other.

Nick's hand rested on my knee, his thumb absentmindedly tracing soft circles there, and it sent a wave of warmth through me. It wasn't just comfort—it was something deeper, something we had both been avoiding for too long. I caught his eye, and in that moment, I realized how much I had missed him. Not just his presence, but him. The way he used to look at me like I was the only thing in his world. And now, for the first time in what felt like forever, that look was back.

"You're quiet," he said, his voice a little husky as he leaned in slightly, his hand tightening just a little on my knee.

I smiled softly, shaking my head. "I'm just... thinking. About us. About how far we've come."

He nodded, his gaze never leaving mine. "We've been through a lot, Jade. More than we probably should have. But I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

His words sent a shiver through me, and I realized just how much I had needed to hear them. There was no more anger in his voice, no more accusations, just a simple truth—a promise. He wasn't going to let the past define us anymore, and neither was I.

I reached out, brushing a hand over his jaw, feeling the stubble that had grown there since the last time we were this close. His eyes darkened slightly, his breath hitching just enough for me to notice. And then, without another word, he leaned in, closing the space between us, his lips finding mine in a kiss that felt like a release. A release of everything that had been holding us back.

The kiss was slow at first, soft and tentative, as if we were both testing the waters, trying to see if we were really ready for this. But then, something shifted. The kiss deepened, and all the tension that had been simmering between us for months broke free. It wasn't just a kiss anymore—it was a reclaiming, a way of saying that despite everything, we were still us.

Nick's hands slid up my sides, pulling me closer until I was practically in his lap. I could feel his heart racing beneath my fingertips, matching the wild beat of my own. Every touch, every movement was filled with a kind of urgency, like we were making up for all the time we had lost.

He pulled back just enough to look at me, his forehead resting against mine. His voice was low, almost a whisper. "Are you sure about this? I don't want to rush you."

I nodded, my hands still on his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breath. "I'm sure, Nick. I want this. I want us."

That was all it took. In one fluid motion, he scooped me up into his arms and carried me to the bed. His touch was gentle but firm, like he was afraid I might change my mind at any moment. But I didn't. I couldn't. The way he looked at me, the way his hands moved over me—it was everything I had missed, everything I had needed but hadn't let myself admit.

As he laid me down, his hands skimmed over my skin, sending sparks of electricity through me. I could feel the weight of him, the warmth of his body against mine, and it was intoxicating. Every touch felt like a reminder of what we were fighting for—what we had lost but were now finding again.

"Jade," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion as his lips traced the curve of my jaw. "I've missed you. Every single part of you."

I couldn't speak. All I could do was pull him closer, my hands tangling in his hair as I kissed him again, harder this time, with everything I had. It was like all the broken pieces of us were being put back together, piece by piece, kiss by kiss.

The clothes we had on became a distant memory as we gave in to the moment, to each other. It wasn't just about the physical connection—it was about something deeper, something that went beyond words. Every touch, every breath was filled with the unspoken promise that we were going to make this work. That we were done letting the past dictate our future.

As Nick's hands moved over my body, I could feel the possessiveness in his touch, the way he wanted to claim every part of me. But it wasn't aggressive or angry—it was filled with love, with a need to remind me that I was his, and he was mine. No one else. Not Harry. Not anyone.

"I'm not going to lose you again," he murmured against my skin, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't care what it takes. I'm going to make this right."

I smiled, threading my fingers through his hair as I pulled him closer. "You already are."

And with that, we lost ourselves in each other, letting go of everything else. It was just us. Finally, just us.

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. I stirred, feeling the familiar weight of Nick's arm draped over me. For the first time in a long time, I felt... at peace. There was no more distance between us, no more tension. Just the steady rhythm of his breathing next to me, reminding me that we had made it through the worst of it.

As I shifted, Nick's grip tightened, pulling me closer to him. He nuzzled his face into the crook of my neck, his voice still thick with sleep. "Morning."

I smiled, turning in his arms to face him. "Morning."

His eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, we just lay there, staring at each other. There was something different in his gaze—something softer, more open. Like he was finally letting himself be vulnerable with me again.

"Last night..." he began, his voice trailing off as he searched for the right words.

I placed a finger over his lips, silencing him. "Don't. You don't have to say anything. It was perfect."

He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "It was, wasn't it?"

I nodded, snuggling closer to him as I rested my head against his chest. The steady thump of his heartbeat was soothing, a reminder that we were still here, still fighting for each other.

"I don't know what the future holds," I admitted quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I know I want to face it with you."

Nick's arms tightened around me, his lips pressing a soft kiss to the top of my head. "Me too, Jade. Me too."

We lay there in comfortable silence, the weight of the past finally starting to lift. There would be challenges ahead, moments where doubt and insecurity would creep back in. But for now, we had each other. And that was enough.

For the first time in a long time, I felt like we were going to be okay.