The kiss deepened, slow and breathless. Nathan's fingers curled gently around Stephanie's waist, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them. Her hands gripped his shirt, knuckles whitening as she held on like he was the only thing tethering her to the earth.
His lips moved with a hunger he could no longer hide, brushing over hers again and again as if trying to memorize every curve of her mouth. She melted into him, her body fitting perfectly against his like it had been crafted just for this moment.
Nathan pulled away briefly, resting his forehead against hers, his breath ragged.
"Stephanie…" he whispered, voice low and strained. "Are you sure?"
Her eyes searched his—soft, but certain. "I've never been more sure of anything."
That was all he needed.
He cupped her face tenderly and kissed her again, this time slower, deeper, as if pouring out everything he'd tried so hard to bury—every fear, every longing, every spark of hope. His hands slid along her back, tracing the delicate arch of her spine. Stephanie's fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer, gasping softly against his lips.
They moved together, finding rhythm in each step as he guided her gently toward the bedroom.
Their clothes fell away one piece at a time—discarded jackets, whispering fabrics, buttons slipping free. But it wasn't rushed. Every movement was deliberate, every touch filled with reverence. Nathan paused to look at her—really look at her—as the last barrier between them fell away.
"You're beautiful," he breathed, voice husky with awe. "God… you're beautiful, Stephanie."
She blushed, but didn't look away. Her fingers traced his jawline, soft and shaking slightly. "So are you."
He lifted her in his arms effortlessly, like she weighed nothing at all, and carried her to the bed. The moonlight streaming through the curtains bathed them in silver, casting shadows that flickered like candlelight on their skin.
As they lay together, the air shifted—desire blooming into something deeper. The world outside faded. Every breath, every heartbeat, every whispered name became their only truth.
Stephanie's soft moans mingled with Nathan's quiet groans as their bodies moved in sync, not just with passion—but with vulnerability. It was more than physical. It was a language spoken without words, a promise sealed in the quiet tremble of her voice when she said his name, the way his arms held her tighter like he was afraid she'd vanish.
In that room, in that moment, there was no company, no inheritance, no ghosts of the past.
Only them.
And for the first time in a very long time—Nathan Voss allowed himself to feel loved.