The space between us disappears in an instant. One moment, I'm telling myself to push him away, to stop this before it spirals out of control. The next, his lips are on mine, and all those thoughts vanish, swallowed by the overwhelming rush of heat that surges through my body.
It's not a gentle kiss. It's desperate, urgent, like he's been holding this in for years, and I feel myself respond before I can think. My hands, which were pressed against his chest to push him away, betray me. They clutch at his shirt, pulling him closer.
The taste of him, the feel of his body pressed against mineâit's too much, too fast. My mind is spinning, struggling to catch up with the storm of emotions crashing over me, but I can't pull away. I don't want to.
Levi's grip tightens at the small of my back, pulling me flush against him as the kiss deepens. His lips move with a rough intensity that sends shivers down my spine, and I find myself melting into him, my own walls crumbling as years of tension and unsaid words ignite between us.
But then, just as quickly as it started, I pull back, gasping for air, my heart racing so fast it feels like it's going to burst out of my chest. I stare at him, wide-eyed, still reeling from the heat of his kiss, and I can't think straight.
This is Levi. The person I've spent years fighting, arguing with, trying to outdo. The person I started to fall for. And now... we're here. Like this.
"What are we doing?" I whisper, my voice shaky, breathless.
Levi doesn't answer immediately. His breathing is ragged too, his chest rising and falling as he stares down at me, his eyes dark with something I've never seen before. "What we should've done a long time ago," he says finally, his voice rough, raw with honesty.
My heart twists, conflicted. "But Mia..." I start again, the remnants of doubt clawing at me. "Levi? What if this is justâ"
"It's not about her," he cuts in, his hands still on me, grounding me in the moment. "It was never about her. Mia is... just a friend. A friend that really needed a friendship." His gaze softens, just slightly. "But you always got under my skin, Cora."
His words make my chest tighten, the intensity of his confession sinking in. He's laying everything out now, and I don't know if I'm ready for it. "Levi, I... I don't know how to do this with you." The vulnerability in my voice surprises even me, but it's the truth.
Levi leans in, his forehead resting against mine, his breath mingling with mine as he speaks. "We figure it out. Together. No more walls." He pulls back just enough to look me in the eyes, and there's something so real, so open in his expression that it scares me. "I'm not saying it'll be easy, Cora. But I'm done pretending."
I stand there, torn between the rush of emotions swirling inside meâfear, excitement, confusion. His words hang in the air, waiting for me to make a decision. I can feel the weight of everything we've been through pressing down on us, years of competition and unresolved feelings, but there's something else now. Something deeper.
And I have to choose.
"I..." My voice trails off as I search his eyes, the raw honesty there, the vulnerability. He's giving me everything. "I'm scared," I admit softly, feeling exposed, the words barely audible between us.
"I know." His hand moves to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing softly across my skin. "But I've waited a long time for you to stop running, Cora."
I stare up at him, my heart thundering in my chest. And in that moment, something shifts. I don't know what's going to happen next. I don't know if this is going to work, or if we're just setting ourselves up for more heartbreak.
But as I close the space between us again, pulling him down into another kiss, I realize that maybe, just maybe, I'm ready to find out.
The kiss this time is slower, deeperâlike we're both savoring the moment, feeling the weight of everything between us. My mind quiets, all the noise of confusion and doubt melting away as I let myself get lost in him. The world narrows until it's just Levi, his hands on my skin, his lips soft and firm against mine.
It feels like everything I've been fighting is breaking apart, and a part of me wonders how long I can keep pretending that this tension between us was ever just not liking each other.
When we finally pull back, we're both breathless. I blink up at him, my heart pounding, trying to make sense of what just happenedâwhat's still happening. Levi's eyes are still locked on mine, his thumb tracing slow, soothing circles on my jaw. There's a softness to his expression now, something almost tender, and it takes everything in me not to fall apart.
For a long, heavy moment, neither of us speaks. We're just standing there, tangled in each other, the intensity of the kiss still lingering in the air.
"Iâ" I start, my voice breaking the silence, but I don't know what to say. How do I even begin to explain the storm of emotions swirling inside me?
Levi's fingers brush a stray strand of hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear. "Don't overthink it," he murmurs, his voice softer now, but still holding that edge of confidence.
But that's the thingâI've always overthought everything when it comes to him. Every word, every glance, every time he's pushed me to my limits. I've spent years trying to decipher his intentions, trying to stay one step ahead of him. And now, here we are, and I don't have a plan. I don't have control.
"I'm not used to this," I admit, my voice quiet, unsure.
Levi's lips twitch into a small, almost rueful smile. "Neither am I," he says, his hand sliding down to rest on my waist, grounding me. "But I think we've been doing this wrong for a long time, don't you?"
I blink, the honesty in his words cutting through me. He's right. We've spent years dancing around each other, hiding behind snarky comments and arguments, pretending that the pull between us wasn't there. And now, with all those defenses stripped away, it's terrifying.
But it's also exhilarating.
"I guess we have," I say, exhaling a shaky laugh.
His thumb strokes over the fabric of my shirt where his hand rests, and the simple gesture sends a flutter through my chest. "So what are we now, sweetheart?" he asks, his voice lower, more serious.
That's the question, isn't it? What now?
I bite my lip, glancing away for a second, trying to gather my thoughts. "I... don't know." I feel exposed admitting it, but I need to be honest.
Levi's fingers tighten slightly on my waist, like he's steadying me. "It doesn't have to change anything if you don't want it to." His words are gentle, careful. "But I'm not going to pretend anymore. I can't."
There's a rawness in his voice, something vulnerable I've never seen in him before. Levi has always been so sure of himself, so confident. And now, seeing this side of himâit makes my chest ache.
I swallow hard, my throat tight. "I don't want to pretend either," I whisper, the truth finally surfacing, like a weight lifting off my shoulders.
His eyes soften, a flicker of amusement in them. "We can still fight," he says with a slight smirk. "Just maybe less about trying to destroy each other, sweetheart."
I laugh, a real laugh this time, and it feels like some of the tension finally breaks.
That word againâsweetheart. But this time, instead of throwing me off balance, it makes me feel... warm. Like maybe, just maybe, I could get used to this.
I look up at him, taking a breath, my heart pounding in my chest. "I don't know where this is going," I say, my voice quieter now. "But... I am excited."
Levi's expression softens, his hand sliding up to cup my cheek again, his thumb brushing over my skin in a way that makes me shiver. "That's all I needed to hear," he murmurs, before leaning in and pressing his lips to mine again.
This kiss is different. It's not rushed or franticâit's slow, deliberate, like we're both testing the waters, figuring out what this new dynamic between us feels like. And it feels... right. Like something that's been building for years has finally clicked into place.
When we break apart, Levi rests his forehead against mine, his breath mingling with mine, and for the first time in a long time, I feel at peace.
These two might be the longest chapters I've ever written, but I couldn't stop once I got into it! The tension between Cora and Levi has been building for so long, and I wanted to make sure every moment of this chapter captured the heat, the emotion, and the vulnerability between them. Their dynamic is so complex, and it was so much fun to finally peel back the layers and let them confront their feelings head-on.
I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I loved writing it! Let me know your thoughtsâI'd love to hear what you think about where things are going for these two.
Thank you for your support, and for sticking with me through this story!
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