Chapter 203.

Kylie’s smile faded. "You don’t have to."

"I know." He said it immediately. "That doesn’t mean I don’t want to."

She looked at him for several seconds. Then she whispered, "I don’t tell people about this."

"Why?" He asked attentively.

"Because it matters too much."

Christian understood. If it mattered too much, it could hurt too much.

"So you hide it."

She nodded. "I don’t really hide it." She gestured vaguely. "I just keep it out of my profile, and make sure they never ask."

Christian raised an eyebrow. His smile widened. "You don’t have to prove your intelligence. The full details of your life belomgs to you. Keep it."

Kylie looked at him.

"You can be the woman who dances until two in the morning and the woman who spends three hours reading criminal law."

A tiny smile appeared.

"You can be the woman who knows every club in New York and the woman who wants to represent victims who have been ignored."

His thumb brushed her hand. "Those women are the same person."

Kylie looked down. She became quiet.

"You don’t give up easily." He squeezed her hand. "So don’t start now."

She stared at him. Then her eyes filled again.

Christian opened his arms.

This time, Kylie went into them without hesitation. She pressed her face against his chest.

His arms wrapped around her.

And for once, Kylie didn’t feel the need to joke. She cried quietly against him.

Not loudly, but just enough for the little girl inside her to finally release something she’d been carrying for years.

Christian’s hand moved slowly through her hair. Her fingers tightened around his shirt, and she closed her eyes.

A tear slipped down her cheek.

"All corners of you are amazing."

Kylie breathed shakily.

"You’re already you."

She held him tighter.

"And I like you exactly as you are."

Kylie whispered, "I really want to become a lawyer."

Christian smiled against her hair. "Then become one."

She pulled away slightly. "What if Kingsley rejects me too?"

"Then you apply somewhere else."

"And if they reject me?"

"You apply again."

She stared at him. "It’s not that easy."

"No." His smile faded. "It’s not easy, but possible."

Kylie went quiet. She wiped her cheeks.

Christian gently moved to her bed, and reached for the laptop.

"Come on."

"What?"

"Show me the application."

Kylie stared at him. "Why?"

"I want to understand what you’re working toward."

"You won’t understand half of it."

"Then explain it."

She laughed. "You’re going to read my personal statement?"

"Yes."

"You don’t even know what restorative law means."

"I’ll learn."

She smiled. Her cheeks reddened, unknown to her. "Okay." She accepted.

She opened the laptop, and then they sat side by side on the bed.

Kylie scrolled through the document.

Christian read.

Kylie stared at him in silent. She watched every of his facial expression. Then she smiled. Her lips curled into a small, real and gentle smile.

"Thank you."

Christian pulled her to his side, and kissed her forehead. "You don’t have to thank me."

"I do."

"No." He stared down her her. "You did the hard part."

Kylie watched him. "What hard part?"

"You told me."

Kylie stared at him.

Warmth moved through her chest.

Christian had listened to all of it.

He hadn’t laughed. He hadn’t looked at her differently. He hadn’t treated her like she was fragile either.

He had simply stayed.

Kylie slowly lifted her hand. Her fingers brushed the side of his face.

Christian went still.

She traced his cheek with her fingertips before her palm settled against his jaw.

His eyes searched hers.

Kylie rubbed her thumb slowly across his chin. Then her thumb moved higher, across the edge of his lower lip.

Christian’s breathing changed slightly.

Kylie’s other hand found his free one.

Their fingers intertwined.

She looked at their hands for a second, then back at him. Her heart was beating too quickly with every passing second.

"I want you."

Christian’s eyes spilled with emotions. "Kylie..."

She didn’t let him finish.

She leaned forward and kissed him. This kiss was softer than all yhe other kisses they had once shared.

This kiss was almost aching.

Like she had spent too long holding something inside her and had finally found somewhere safe enough to let it go.

Christian stayed still for the first second. Then his hand moved to her waist. He pulled her closer, and kissed her back.

Kylie pulled him closer by the hand she still held.

Christian’s fingers tightened around hers.

He kissed her again. Longer this time. Warm, and slow.

Her eyes fluttered shut. She could still feel the faint sting of tears on her cheeks. But somehow, she didn’t care.

She was only thinking about Christian.

His hand at her waist, his fingers intertwined with hers, and the warmth of his mouth against hers.

The kiss became deeper.

Christian shifted closer.

Still kissing her, he gently lowered her back onto the bed.

Kylie followed him without hesitation.

His arm slipped around her waist, drawing her closer until there was barely any space between them.

Her fingers tightened around his.

She kissed him again. She pushed forward, deepening the kiss. Each one softer than the last, but somehow more difficult to pull away from.

Christian’s hand moved slowly along her waist. He found the waistband of her shorts. His hand paused there, and he kissed her more.

Kylie breathed against his lips. She had no idea how long they stayed like that.

A few seconds. Maybe longer.

She only knew she didn’t want the moment to end. Then she remembered the laptop. Her hand moved blindly across the bed.

Christian felt it and smiled against her lips. "What are you doing?"

She didn’t answer.

Her fingers searched for the laptop. Finally, she found it. Without breaking the kiss, Kylie reached toward it.

Her fingers slipped around the edge.

Christian pulled back barely an inch. "Blue."

She ignored him.

She pressed the lid down.

The laptop clicked shut. Then, still holding onto him, she pushed it gently toward the edge of the bed.

It slid off with a quiet thud.

Kylie smiled against his mouth.

Christian laughed softly. "You just threw your laptop onto the floor."

She kissed him again. "I’ll pick it up later."

His smile disappeared. He brushed his thumb across her cheek. "Are you sure about this?"

Kylie looked into his eyes. For once, there was no hesitation.

"Yes." She touched his face again. "I just want you right now."

Christian’s forehead rested against hers. "Then you have me."