Chapter 234.

Kylie’s eyes softened. "Christian..."

He opened his eyes.

She searched his gaze one more time. Her thumbs moved across his cheeks. "I don’t know what to do with you," she whispered.

A tear escaped him, followed by a breath that sounded almost like a laugh.

"You and me both, Blue."

She let out a small, involuntary sound through her tears. It was barely a laugh, but Christian heard it.

His expression crumpled with relief so immediate and unguarded that Kylie felt her heart twist.

He simply rested his forehead against her hands and closed his eyes.

Christian remained on his knees, his forehead resting against her hands.

Kylie watched him for a long moment.

She had never seen him like this.

She could have sent him away, locked the door behind him, and convinced herself that the ache in her chest would eventually disappear.

But she loved him.

"Christian?"

He lifted his head. His eyes were still wet. "Yes, Blue?"

The tenderness in his voice nearly undid her.

Kylie swallowed. "You should stop kneeling."

He nodded. "Just tell me what to do, Kylie." His face tightened. "I’m sorry."

She looked at him, searching his expression. "I don’t know how to do this, Christian."

His hands loosened around her waist.

"What if I can’t give you what you want?"

He swallowed. "Then we’ll deal with that when we get there. I won’t want a part of you that isn’t you."

"What if I keep getting scared?"

"Then I’ll try not to give you more reasons to be."

A small, broken laugh escaped her.

"You’re supposed to be the one with all the answers."

"I know." His mouth twitched faintly. "I’m having a terrible day."

She laughed again, but the sound broke halfway through.

Christian’s smile disappeared.

"Oh, Blue."

He started to rise, then stopped himself.

"Can I hold you?"

Kylie looked at his hands around her waist. She could feel how badly he wanted to.

"Yes."

Christian stood slowly, giving her time to change her mind. When he was upright, he didn’t immediately pull her against him.

Kylie wrapped her arms around his middle and pressed her face against his chest.

Christian let out a shaky breath.

For one suspended second, his arms hovered around her, as though he couldn’t quite believe she had come to him willingly.

Then he held her. Carefully at first, and a little tighter when she clutched the back of his shirt.

He buried his face in her hair, closing his eyes as his shoulders trembled with a breath he seemed to have been holding since he entered the apartment.

"I’m sorry," he whispered against her hair.

Kylie closed her eyes.

"I’m so sorry about the last hours. I’m so sorry about the violation."

She tightened her arms around him. "I know, Christian."

Eventually, Kylie pulled away.

Christian released her gently.

She looked up at him.

His cheeks were damp. His eyes were red, and his hair was a mess where her fingers had caught in it.

He looked nothing like the man who had stood before the cameras that morning. He looked like someone who had been afraid.

Someone who had loved her badly in one terrible moment and was now trying to learn how to love her better.

Her hand rose before she could talk herself out of it.

She touched his cheek.

Christian went still beneath her palm. "Kylie?"

She brushed away a tear with her thumb. "I still care about you."

He gave a faint, wobbly smile.

She rolled her eyes through her tears. "God, you’re annoying."

"I’ve been told."

"By me. Repeatedly."

"You’re my most reliable source."

A tiny smile pulled at her lips.

Christian stared at it.

It wasn’t much. It was barely a smile at all, but he looked at her as though she had handed him something precious.

Kylie’s expression softened.

His eyes searched hers. "You’ve done worse things to my judgment, Blue."

She let out a watery laugh and shook her head. "Christian."

He stopped.

She was looking at his mouth.

It was such a small thing, such a fleeting movement, but he noticed. He had spent months learning the smallest details about her, and he knew the difference between Kylie looking at him because she was about to argue and Kylie looking at him because she wanted something she was afraid to ask for.

He didn’t move.

"Kylie," he whispered, "what is it?"

She looked back into his eyes. Her heart was beating so hard she could feel it in her throat.

There were still things between them that hurt. Things they needed to talk about. Trust that couldn’t be rebuilt in an afternoon.

She knew that.

She also knew she wanted to kiss him.

And for once, she didn’t want fear to make the decision for her.

"I want to kiss you," she whispered. "Is your engagement truly over?"

Christian stopped breathing.

For a moment, he simply stared at her. Then his eyes searched hers, almost cautiously.

"There was never one, Kylie. And I’m no longer a Sinclair."

Kylie nodded.

He lifted a trembling hand, and pressed it on her cheek.

She leaned into his palm.

His fingers settled against her face, warm and gentle. He looked at her for another second, his expression so open that it made her chest ache.

Then he bent his head, and their lips met.

His hand disappeared into the back of her hair, as he buried his fingers into her soft strands, deepening the kiss.

Kylie place a hand on his shoulder, and one at the back of his hair, as she moved her tongue into his mouth, deeoening the kiss further.

His breath shuddered against her mouth.

She slid her hands around his neck, holding him close, and felt him tremble beneath her touch.

The kiss lingered. It tasted of salt and tears and all the things they hadn’t managed to say.

Kylie pulled back just enough to look at him. Christian kept his forehead against hers, with his eyes closed.

Neither of them spoke.

She could still hear his apology in her head. She could still feel the hurt of what he’d done, and she knew one kiss wouldn’t erase it.

Kylie brushed her thumb against his forehead.

"You look sick," she whispered.

A faint, trembling smile touched his mouth.

"We still have a lot to talk about." She added.

"For as long as you want to keep listening to me."

She looked at him for another moment, and then she kissed him again.

Christian smiled against her lips, with his arms closing around her as she held on to him.