Dark Hearts (Light in the Dark 3)

I inhale a shaky breath and step away, glancing up at him.

His eyes are shuttered, his jaw tight, hiding his true emotions.

I step away and force a smile, figuring it’s best to pretend he didn’t just give me the best kiss of my life.

“So, I guess we should go back to the hotel?”

Normal. Act normal.

He nods and shoves his hands in the pockets of his jeans, striding forward and away from me with his shoulders hunched.

I follow, glancing up at the twinkling night sky.

The cool air brushes my heated cheeks, and I pause, closing my eyes.

I hear Jace’s footsteps stop and then start again, coming closer to me.

“What’re you doing?” he asks.

“Living,” I answer simply.

I learned a long time ago that moments like this are precious. Times when everything might seem like a mess, there’s that single moment where time stops, and it feels … perfect. I don’t know what our kiss means, and I don’t want to overanalyze it, but I also know I never want to forget it.

Jace

I lie in bed staring at the ceiling.

Sleep evades me while Nova sleeps peacefully in the other bed beside me—if her steady breathing is any indication.

I keep replaying our kiss over and over again in my mind.

It shouldn’t have fucking happened.

I shouldn’t have let it.

I shouldn’t have gone there.

So many fucking should nots.

Yet, I have no desire to take it back.

It shouldn’t have happened, but I don’t regret it.

Kissing Nova was everything I expected and more—somehow better than every fantasy I’ve played out in my mind over the last year we’ve known each other.

I turn my head, looking over at her. She’s clearly not torn up about this like I am. Or maybe her way of dealing with things is different.

Tonight went in a whole different direction than I’d anticipated. I only wanted to cheer up, show her a good time, and then when we danced … fuck.

I’ve never been more turned on in all my life.

So much so that I found myself jerking off in the club bathroom. I’ve never had to do that before, but I shouldn’t be surprised about anything when it comes to Nova.

Her breaths are even, her blue hair fanned around her shoulders.

I wish I could find a similar peace, but I can tell this is one of those nights where sleep is never going to come.

I ease from my bed, stepping carefully across the floor so I don’t wake her.