Chapter 1 The Night We Choose Us
Flashes burst like fireworks, but Nova didn’t blink.
Her fingers remained tightly laced with Haesoo’s not for the fans, not for the media. They already believed they were still together. There had never been an official announcement of their breakup. The world had kept shipping them, cheering them, dreaming with them.
But this wasn’t for the world.
This was for the ones who actually mattered the presidents, prime ministers, dictators, and the silent observers at Headquarters, the people who knew the truth. The people who had watched her step away from Haesoo. The ones who demanded loyalty, obedience, detachment.
Nova stood in front of them now with a message that didn’t need to be spoken:
“I won’t be controlled by fear.”
She didn’t speak. She didn’t have to.
The cameras caught her hand in his, her chin lifted high, and her expression unreadable. It wasn’t romantic m it was political. A declaration, calculated and defiant.
Behind the curtain, Asher met them with his phone already buzzing.
“They know,” he said quietly, not needing to specify who. “Everyone that matters.”
Nova gave a single nod. “Good.”
Let them watch.
Let them try her.
Let them learn she never backs down.
The cheers faded behind them, replaced by the hum of city traffic and the muffled click of camera shutters still chasing the black car.
Nova stared out the window, calm on the outside, but her fingers curled slightly in her lap.
Haesoo sat beside her, silent for a long time. The tension wasn’t awkward it was thick with unspoken truths.
Finally, he spoke, voice low and careful.
“Are you sure about what you just did?”
Nova didn’t answer right away.
She turned her head toward him slowly, eyes steady. “Yes.”
Haesoo looked at her, his jaw tightening. “That wasn’t just a public moment. That was a message. To… everyone.”
“I know.”
“And HQ?” he pressed, a little softer now. “You know they’re not going to take this lightly.”
She gave a short, quiet laugh not out of amusement, but out of certainty. “They already got the message the moment my fingers touched yours.”
A silence passed between them. He wanted to argue, maybe even protect her, but he knew she’d already accepted the weight of her actions long before she acted.
Nova glanced forward again. “It’s too late to worry, Haesoo. The second I chose you again I made myself a target.”
He reached over, resting his hand gently on hers.
“Then let me be your shield too.”
She didn’t answer. But she didn’t let go either.
As their fingers stayed interlaced in the quiet of the car, Nova’s lips curved into a faint smile.
“By the way,” she said, breaking the silence with a teasing tone, “you still owe me a date.”
Haesoo blinked, then let out a soft laugh.
“A date?”
“Yeah. You said once we were public, you’d take me somewhere nice. Thought I forgot?” She turned her head to look at him, one brow raised playfully.
Haesoo smiled, but there was tenderness in it too.
“I didn’t forget. I just didn’t expect you to bring it up… not today, of all days.”
Nova leaned back against the seat, looking ahead.
“That’s why it matters. After everything… I want a moment that’s just ours.”
He squeezed her hand gently.
“Then I’ll make sure it’s a moment worth remembering.”
She smiled again softer this time and closed her eyes, resting her head against the cool glass of the window.
“Then I’ll make sure it’s a moment worth remembering,” Haesoo said.
Nova smiled faintly.
“When?”
He glanced at her, expression firm now.
“Tonight. Let’s just head back, change, and I’ll take you out properly.”
Nova looked at him, surprised for a split second then nodded.
They pulled into Nova’s house, stepping out together and Asher stepped out.
He froze.
His gaze dropped immediately to their still-clasped hands.
“So it’s official now,” he said, arms crossed.
Nova didn’t flinch.
“Depends who’s asking.”
Asher raised a brow, clearly trying not to smile.
“I wasn’t asking. The entire world already knows. But HQ…” he trailed off, shaking his head.
“You really just held his hand like that?”
“I didn’t hold his hand,” Nova said flatly.
“I claimed him.”
Asher stared at her for a beat… then sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Remind me to order security upgrades,” he muttered.
“You just painted a massive target on both your backs. The press I can deal with it’s the ones we don’t see coming that worry me.”
Nova walked past him.
“I’ll change. We have somewhere to be.”
“What?” Asher blinked. “You’re going out?”
Haesoo gave him a shrug.
“She said I owed her a date.”
Asher groaned dramatically and followed them inside.
“Of course she did.”
Upstairs, the energy between them remained unspoken but electric. Haesoo followed Nova into her room it wasn’t unusual anymore. His clothes were already there, folded neatly in one of her drawers, just like he belonged.
He pulled on a pair of black baggy jeans, a fitted black T-shirt, and zipped up a hoodie. As he adjusted the black bucket hat over his dark hair, he caught Nova’s reflection in the mirror.
She was tugging on her own outfit: washed black jeans that hugged her just right, paired with a tight white crop top. Her long hair flowed beneath her black bucket hat, her style casual but lethal just like her.
When they both turned, ready, there was a pause.
“You’re not gonna say anything?” she teased, looking him up and down.
Haesoo grinned. “We look like we’re about to drop a diss track.”
“You wish,” she muttered with a smirk.
They headed downstairs where Asher was still glued to the news coverage. When he looked up and saw them perfectly in sync, perfectly matched his expression flickered with both worry and a silent sort of approval.
“You two matching on purpose?” he asked, leaning back with a sigh.
Nova shrugged. “No,” she said.
Haesoo added, “But it works.”
Asher shook his head, but he was smiling faintly. “You really aren’t backing down, huh?”
Nova and Haesoo stood side by side, a silent wall of unity.
“We’re not backing down,” Nova said, her voice calm but firm.
“Not this time,” Haesoo added, his eyes locked on Asher. “We’re in this together.”
Asher looked between the two of them the matching outfits, the matching defiance in their eyes, the unshakable bond. After a pause, he stood from the couch and walked over to them.
“I figured as much,” he said with a small sigh. “And if you’re going to stand your ground… then I’m with you. Always.”
Nova’s expression softened, her eyes holding his with quiet appreciation.
“Thank you, Asher,” she said.
“You’ve had my back since the beginning,” he replied. “I’m not about to disappear now.”
Haesoo gave him a grateful nod. “We know.”
Asher looked between them again and managed a wry smile. “Now go on your date. I’ll handle anything that comes through while you’re out.”
For the first time, they didn’t sneak through back doors or wear disguises that hid everything but their silhouettes.
They walked together hand in hand through the busy station, the hum of the subway beneath their feet. Haesoo wore a black hoodie with his bucket hat low, but it didn’t matter. Nova’s cropped white top and fitted jeans made her stand out, her long hair brushing against her shoulders as she held his hand tightly.
At first, people only glanced their way. Then the first gasp.
“Is that…?”
“Nova and Haesoo?!”
Phones came out, whispers rippled through the station, but no one screamed. No one swarmed. The moment was oddly peaceful, filled with wide eyes, quick snaps of photos, and soft smiles of approval.
Nova felt her heart race not from fear, but from something new. Something freeing.
Haesoo squeezed her hand. “You okay?”
She nodded slowly. “This is… weird. But not bad.”
A girl sitting near the tracks waved gently with her phone still down, eyes shining with excitement. Nova smiled back, giving her a tiny wave.
Fans respected the space. They took pictures, yes, but from a distance. No shouting, no pushing, just quiet admiration like the world collectively understood they were witnessing something sacred.
When the subway doors opened, Haesoo guided her in, and she didn’t let go of his hand even once.
The train hummed beneath them as they stepped inside. A few passengers looked up, some already filming discreetly, others simply watching in awe.
Nova leaned close, her breath brushing his ear.
“This is my first time taking a subway,” she whispered, like she was revealing a secret.
Haesoo blinked, then broke into a quiet laugh low and warm. He turned his head just enough to catch her eyes.
“Of course it is,” he said, grinning. “Leave it to you to ride the subway for the first time like it’s a royal tour.”
She smiled, cheeks flushing slightly.
“Well, it kind of feels like one.”
A fan across the car subtly captured the moment on video the closeness, the way Haesoo giggled, the way Nova looked at him like he was the only person in the world. No screaming, no chaos just a simple clip of two people sharing a quiet, genuine moment.
That clip would later go viral with the caption:
“Nova’s first subway ride was with Haesoo the way he laughs when she whispers?? Soulmates.”
And somehow, for the first time, the world didn’t just see Nova and Haesoo as stars.
They saw them as people. And they loved them for it.
The subway doors hissed open.
Nova and Haesoo stepped out, their fingers still laced together. The city buzzed around them, neon lights flickering against the pavement, but neither of them seemed to notice anything beyond each other. Their pace was unhurried. Calm. Grounded.
It was the first time they could be themselves no disguises, no hiding. Just two people walking hand in hand.
They exited the station, the air thick with the scent of grilled food and sweet desserts. The night market sprawled before them, lively and colorful. Booths lined the streets selling everything from skewers to handmade jewelry, from steaming dumplings to candied fruit.
A few fans noticed them some whispered excitedly, a couple smiled and waved but no one intruded. There was a mutual respect in the air. They were being watched, yes, but not consumed.
Nova glanced up at Haesoo, her eyes gleaming in the glow of the market lights.
“This feels weird.”
He squeezed her hand gently. “The good kind of weird?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Like… I almost forgot what it’s like to just live.”
They stopped at a skewer stall, the vendor doing a double take before pretending not to recognize them. Haesoo paid and handed her one, then took a bite of his own.
“Mmm,” Nova said, savoring the spice. “I might come back just for this.”
“You mean we,” he teased.
She smiled at that. “Right. We.”
As they continued strolling, a young couple walking by turned and softly whispered, “Is that really them?”
Another pulled out their phone but quickly lowered it again when Nova met their eyes and gave a small, grateful nod.
This was freedom. Not the kind she fought for on missions or held in contracts. But the kind you find in quiet nights, shared food, and hands that don’t let go.
They found a bench just off to the side of the market’s main path, half-shielded by paper lanterns swaying gently in the breeze. Nova sat first, stretching her legs out with a satisfied sigh. Haesoo joined her, setting down the small tray of spicy rice cakes and grilled meat they’d gathered along the way.
“Open,” he said playfully, holding out a rice cake with the chopsticks.
Nova blinked. “What?”
“You heard me. You’ve been chewing like a soldier, let me feed you like a princess.”
She gave him a look, but leaned forward anyway, lips parting. “Fine. Just don’t drop it.”
Haesoo carefully fed her, watching her chew with a satisfied grin.
A small group of fans across the walkway quietly gasped, phones discreetly raised. They didn’t scream or rush over. They simply captured the moment the kind that fans had dreamed of but never expected to see out in the open.
Another bite followed. This time Nova narrowed her eyes at him with a smirk.
“If you’re going to feed me, at least try the spicy one next. Let’s see if you can handle it.”
He fed her again, and this time, dabbed the corner of her lip with a napkin like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, amused.
“Just… remembering this moment. That’s all.”
By the time they finished eating, photos and short clips had already started circulating online. The caption under one said:
“The way he feeds her?? This is not just dating. This is soulmates.”
Another fan had simply written:
“They look so soft together. Please let them be happy.”
They kept walking, the glow of neon signs reflecting in puddles left from an earlier rain. The scent of roasted chestnuts and sweet pancakes lingered in the air as the noise of street musicians and chatter filled the night. Haesoo and Nova’s hands remained linked their fingers comfortably intertwined like it had always been that way.
For once, there were no heavy eyes from headquarters. No schedules. No rehearsals. Just the two of them, blending in with the crowd under the moonlight.
Nova glanced around, her eyes bright. “I haven’t felt this… normal in a long time.”
Haesoo smiled gently. “Maybe because this is what normal with me looks like.”
They slowed at a small vendor booth a tiny stand tucked beneath a faded red awning. A rotating rack held dozens of handcrafted couple keychains: miniature hearts, puzzle pieces, and even animals stitched from fabric.
Nova stepped closer. Her eyes landed on a simple black-and-white metal pair one was a half-moon, the other a star. Elegant. Minimal. Subtle enough not to raise suspicion, but still meaningful.
Haesoo noticed her stare.
“You like those?”
Nova shrugged lightly. “They’re cute.”
Without saying another word, he pulled out his money and paid.
When the vendor handed him the tiny bag, Haesoo took out both keychains and offered her the star. “You always say I bring you peace at night, so it makes sense you’d be the star.”
Nova looked up at him slowly, something soft flashing across her face. “Then I guess that makes you the moon… the one who stays with me even in the dark.”
He smiled and hooked the half-moon keychain to his own bag before gently clipping hers to the belt loop of her jeans. “Now everyone knows you’re mine.”
Fans who passed by had been quiet, respectfully snapping distant photos. One fan later posted the keychain moment online with the caption:
“They weren’t just walking around like a couple. They were a couple. And they didn’t care who saw it anymore.”
As they walked away from the stand, Nova glanced over her shoulder and blinked in surprise.
A small crowd had formed near the vendor. More and more fans were buying the exact same keychains the little moon and star set. The vendor looked both overwhelmed and delighted as he quickly restocked.
Haesoo chuckled, noticing it too. “Guess we just started a trend.”
Nova smiled, her heart full. “You did.”
Rather than calling a car, they kept walking past the glow of the market, past the flickering street signs, and down the quieter back roads that led home. It was a thirty-minute walk, but neither of them cared.
Because this walking outside, hand in hand, no disguises or rushing or hiding was something they’d never really had before.
“I don’t want tonight to end,” Nova said softly, looking up at the moon.
Haesoo squeezed her hand. “Then let’s stretch it out as long as we can.”
The streetlights cast soft pools of light on the sidewalk as they strolled. Their fingers remained locked, swaying with each step. Sometimes, they said nothing at all just listening to the sound of the city at night, their footsteps in rhythm.
For once, the world felt far away.
And for once, they didn’t need to run from it.
Halfway through their walk, Nova tugged gently on Haesoo’s arm.
“Wait, can we stop here?” she said, pointing to a small convenience store lit up on the corner.
He grinned. “You want snacks?”
“No,” she said with a smile. “Ice cream.”
They went inside, and Nova made a beeline for the freezer section. She scanned it like it was a mission file, finally choosing a soft-serve vanilla cone with chocolate drizzle. Haesoo grabbed a strawberry bar for himself.
They paid, and walked out, settling on a little bench just outside the store. The city was quiet in this part of the neighborhood, the buzz of the market now far behind them.
Nova licked her cone happily, letting out a soft hum. “You have no idea how much I needed this.”
Haesoo watched her with a quiet smile, then leaned in, reaching up.
“You’ve got some,” he said, brushing his thumb along her cheek to catch a smear of chocolate.
Her breath caught slightly not because of the ice cream, but because of the way he looked at her just then. Soft. Tender. As if wiping her cheek meant everything.
He sucked the chocolate off his thumb. “Can’t take you anywhere.”
Nova rolled her eyes with a shy laugh. “You love it.”
He leaned back against the bench. “I do.”
For a while, they sat like that eating their ice creams slowly, watching the occasional car pass, their knees touching beneath the bench.
No hiding. No disguises. Just them, on a warm night, tasting freedom.
They sat close on the bench, the soft night air wrapping around them as they finished their ice cream. Haesoo was halfway through his strawberry bar when Nova leaned slightly into his side, her shoulder brushing his.
“You know…” she murmured, licking the last bit of chocolate from her cone, “this is probably the first time we’ve gone out like this and not had to pretend.”
He smiled, glancing at her. “Feels nice.”
She tilted her head. “Yeah?”
Before he could answer, Nova leaned in and stole a quick kiss soft and sweet, her lips tasting faintly of vanilla and chocolate. It was fast, but enough to make his eyes widen for a beat.
When she pulled back, licking her lips like nothing happened, Haesoo stared at her.
“Did you just?”
“What?” she said innocently, taking another bite of her cone. “You had ice cream on your lips.”
He narrowed his eyes playfully. “You’re dangerous.”
“You love it,” she teased with a smirk.
“I really do,” he muttered, leaning his head back with a grin, trying to calm the flutter in his chest.
And just like that, under the convenience store’s flickering neon lights, surrounded by late-night calm and a few passing glances, the world felt perfectly still like it belonged only to them.
After finishing their ice cream, they both stood from the convenience store bench. Nova tossed her wrapper into the trash while Haesoo followed behind, doing the same. As they stepped back onto the sidewalk, Nova reached for his hand again, their fingers naturally intertwining.
Haesoo’s thumb brushed over her knuckles and paused.
“You’re cold,” he said softly.
Before she could respond, he was already pulling off his hoodie. “Here.”
She blinked. “I’m okay, really”
“Nope,” he interrupted, draping it over her shoulders and gently easing her arms into the sleeves. He zipped it up halfway for her, his fingers brushing the base of her neck before he leaned back to take her in.
“There,” he said with a satisfied nod. “Perfect fit.”
Nova looked down at herself, drowning slightly in the warmth of his hoodie, the scent of him surrounding her like a quiet hug. She smiled and tugged the sleeves over her hands.
“You’re kind of cute when you act all protective.”
“I’m always protective,” he teased. “You just don’t always let me show it.”
She gave a small laugh, nudging him as they began walking again his hoodie wrapped around.
Once home, they headed straight to the bedroom, their steps quiet against the marble floors. Inside, the familiar comfort of their shared space embraced them. Haesoo walked over to his drawer and pulled out a loose black T-shirt and joggers. Nova, with a slight smirk, walked to her closet and pulled out a delicate lace cami set soft black lace with thin straps and matching shorts.
Haesoo paused mid-change when he caught sight of her. She raised an eyebrow playfully.
“What?” she teased, casually adjusting the strap on her shoulder.
“Nothing,” he muttered, pulling his shirt on while trying not to stare too long.
They both changed quietly, the room filled with a quiet tension that always came with being so close, so comfortable, yet still new every time.
Once they were both changed, the two slid under the covers of the large bed, the cool sheets a contrast to the warmth between them. Nova curled up beside Haesoo, still in her lace cami set, her legs brushing his as she pulled the blanket higher over her waist.
Haesoo grabbed his phone while Nova reached for hers, both of them settling into the quiet rhythm of the night. Notifications lit up their screens almost instantly photos, videos, and excited posts from fans.
Nova tilted her phone toward him with a smirk. “They already posted the subway clip.”
Haesoo leaned over, watching the screen. It was a moment from earlier Nova whispering into his ear, followed by his soft laugh. The caption read: “Haeno supremacy they’re so cute it hurts.”
He chuckled. “I didn’t realize they caught that.”
“Oh, they catch everything,” Nova said, scrolling through more clips. One showed them holding hands at the market, another featured a snapshot of Haesoo feeding her.
He smiled, amused. “We’re trending.”
“Matching keychains did it,” she joked, lifting her wrist to flash hers. “We just caused a nationwide sellout.”
Nova paused, her thumb hovering over a fan-made edit paired with soft music and clips of their journey years of knowing each other, moments of tension, laughter, and now, love.
“I never thought we’d have this,” she whispered.
Haesoo glanced at her, setting his phone aside. “And now we do.”
As the fan posts kept rolling in, Nova set her phone down on the nightstand and turned slightly toward Haesoo. He was still scrolling, but when he felt her gaze, he looked over and smiled.
“Did you like it?” he asked softly.
She tilted her head. “What?”
“The date,” he said, his eyes meeting hers in the quiet. “Was it everything you imagined?”
Nova’s lips curved into a soft smile. “It was… more than I imagined.”
“Really?” he teased, nudging her knee under the blanket. “Even with the street food, the subway, and me forgetting to grab napkins?”
Nova laughed. “Especially because of that. It felt real.”
He reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I wanted it to feel like us. Just… normal.”
“It did,” she said, her voice low. “And for once, I didn’t care who saw.”
Tonight felt different.
As they lay in bed, their bodies curled close beneath the blanket, Haesoo couldn’t stop staring at her. Nova’s face was soft, her eyes reflecting the glow from the streetlights filtering in through the window. The world outside buzzed with attention but in here, it was just the two of them.
She was his. He felt it in the way she looked at him, the way she laughed, the way she hadn’t let go of his hand all night.
For the first time, Haesoo didn’t feel like he had to hold anything back.
His fingers trailed along her arm, slow and thoughtful, then down to her hand. He brought it to his lips and kissed her knuckles one by one.
“I don’t want this night to end yet,” he murmured.
Nova looked up at him, her lashes fluttering. “No?”
He shook his head. “I want to seal it. Like… make it real. Like it’s just us and no one else exists.”
Her lips parted slightly. “And how do you plan to do that?”
He leaned in, voice low and steady. “By making you mine tonight.”
Nova’s breath hitched.
She didn’t look away. Didn’t tease. Instead, she slid her hand up his chest and whispered back, “Then do it.”
Nova didn’t pull away. She didn’t tease or deflect. She just looked at him quiet, searching like she’d been waiting to hear those words.
Haesoo brushed a thumb across her cheek, his voice softer now. “Are you sure?”
She nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving his. “I’m yours, Haesoo. I’ve always been yours.”
That answer settled something deep in him. He leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her forehead, then one to the tip of her nose, and finally, gently, to her lips. It wasn’t rushed or hungry it was patient. Devoted.
Nova’s hand curled into his shirt. She melted into the kiss, allowing it to deepen, her lips parting slightly as his hand found the side of her waist.
His heart raced. Every inch of her skin he touched reminded him that she was really here, safe, with him. And he wanted to take his time to memorize every second.
They shifted, her back slowly meeting the pillows as he hovered over her, their breaths mingling in the quiet of the room.
His hand slipped under the hem of her lace cami, warm fingers resting on her waist. He didn’t move further just rested there, waiting.
“You’re trembling,” he whispered, noticing the subtle way her breath caught.
“I’m not scared,” she whispered back. “I just… I want this to mean something.”
“It already does,” he replied. “You mean everything.”
Another kiss slower this time, lingering followed by a pause as they looked into each other’s eyes. No words. Just understanding.
Every movement was intentional. Every touch laced with reverence.
This wasn’t about rushing into something physical it was about claiming a moment that felt entirely, and irrevocably, theirs.
Nova’s fingers threaded into Haesoo’s hair, pulling him into another kiss this one less patient. Hungrier. He responded immediately, groaning against her lips as he shifted closer, deepening the kiss until there was no space left between them.
Her lace cami brushed against his skin, a soft barrier that was quickly becoming unbearable.
His hands moved, skimming under the delicate fabric to trace along her waist and ribs, fingertips lingering as if memorizing her shape. She arched slightly, gasping into the kiss when he brushed the underside of her chest.
“Nova,” he breathed, voice hoarse. “Tell me to stop if you want”
“I don’t want you to stop.” Her voice was breathy, needy. “I want you.”
That was all he needed.
He rolled them carefully, her body now on top of his. The shift made her let out a soft sound, one that pushed him closer to the edge.
Her hips pressed into his as she leaned down, lips brushing along his jaw, then his neck slow, teasing kisses she knew would drive him crazy. And they did.
“Still playing hard to get?” she whispered, biting softly just below his ear.
Haesoo’s grip on her hips tightened. “You’re going to pay for teasing me like this.”
“Then make me,” she dared, lips brushing his again.
He flipped them in one swift movement, pinning her down gently but firmly. Her breath hitched as he hovered over her, eyes dark with desire.
“You’re mine tonight,” he said, voice low and dangerous. “And I’m not holding back.”
Nova’s heart pounded in her chest, not from fear, but from anticipation.
When his mouth met hers again, it was fire no hesitation, no restraint.
They undressed each other slowly, but their touches were frantic, hungry.
Between kisses, soft gasps, and whispered names, the night blurred into heated movements and stolen breaths.
And when he finally made her his, it wasn’t just physical it was everything they hadn’t said, everything they had felt for years, finally let loose.
Nova lay on her back, staring at the ceiling, her skin still warm, her heartbeat finally beginning to steady. The sheets tangled loosely around her legs, but she didn’t move didn’t want to break the stillness that had settled over the room like a quiet exhale.
Next to her, Haesoo turned his head, propping himself on one elbow. He didn’t say anything right away. He just watched her her flushed cheeks, the gentle rise and fall of her chest, the softness in her expression that only he got to see.
“You’re quiet,” he murmured, brushing his fingers along her wrist.
Nova blinked, her lips curling slightly. “I’m thinking.”
“That always looks like trouble with you,” he said, a playful edge in his voice.
She laughed, but it faded into something more thoughtful. “About how everything’s changing. About how… I never thought I could have something like this. With you.”
Haesoo reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Do you regret it?”
She turned her head toward him. “No. Not even for a second.”
His fingers slid down her jaw, settling against her collarbone. “Then what’s making your heart race now?”
There it was the question she didn’t want to answer but needed to.
“I’m not used to being seen like this,” she admitted quietly. “Like… human. Soft.”
“You’re still strong,” he said. “Even now. Especially now.”
She looked at him. “And you still want me? Bruises and all?”
He leaned down, pressing a kiss to her shoulder right above one of the bruises. “I want all of you.”
Nova reached for him then, pulling him into a slow, silent embrace. No more teasing. No more tension. Just her hand resting against his spine and his heartbeat syncing with hers again.
They didn’t need to say much after that.
Because in that quiet, breathless space between survival and surrender, they already knew.
