A/n: Well, this is the last chapter. Thanks for sticking with me through both, as well as following, favoriting, and reviewing. You guys are awesome.

In other news, I'm going on hiatus again. I took this past spring semester off in an attempt to figure my life out (which I didn't) and it really helped me get this story and its prequel written. But I'm going back to class in two weeks while still working as close to 40 hours as possible, so I need some adjustment time and some time to get to a comfortable spot in my next story before I start posting. I'm not exactly sure when that will be, but it won't be later than November.

If you want to stay updated, PM me for my Twitter and Tumblr handles. If enough people request them, I swear I'll frequently post where I'm at in the planning and writing process. Also, more info on my next project will be posted on my profile page sometime this weekend.

Anyway. Thanks again for reading and such. You're the best! And I really hope you enjoy this last chapter.


Chapter 16: When You Mean It

Nic was waiting for me.

He's in his desk chair, already facing the door, when I barge into his room. I stagger to a halt the instant I see him and the calm, expectant expression he's wearing. My heart begins to pound.

Oh, god. Am I really going to do this?

I look deeply into Nic's eyes, letting myself get lost in the grey. At once, my heartbeat steadies. Everything just seems to settle. All the pieces suddenly feel like they fit together so easily. So perfectly.

And that's when I know that the answer is yes. I'm going to do this. Not only because it's right, but because I want to.

So, after taking a deep breath, I pull out the papers I have in my back pocket. Nic cocks an eyebrow as I unfold them, but doesn't say anything. His gaze never leaves mine. I take strength from that as I tear the acceptance letters down the middle and in half.

"Fuck it," I say, and let the scraps of paper flutter to the floor.

The sense of relief and freedom that hits me in the next second is so strong that I gasp. It's wonderful.

What's even more wonderful is Nic beaming at me with pride and approval in his eyes.

I grin back at him, feeling lighter and happier than I have in—well, ever.

Of course, I have to revise that statement in the next second, after Nic pushes himself out of his chair, walks up to me until there's barely any space between us, and takes my face gently in his hands, resting his forehead against mine.

My breath catches in my throat. Coming from him, this gesture is more tender and intimate than a kiss could ev—

Nic brushes his lips lightly over mine, and I realize I'm wrong again.

X

About an hour later, I trial my fingers down Nic's bare spine, memorizing the curve of each vertebra. When I reach the small of his back, he shivers and his cock gives a small twitch where it's still inside me. I let out a pant and bite my lower lips as my cock tries to respond with a twitch of its own. Never mind that there's no chance of me being ready to go again for another thirty minutes. Twenty if we're lucky.

Nic smiles and snorts into my neck. Then, he runs a hand up my chest until his palm rests over my heart. Naturally, it skips a beat at that. I swallow hard and hide my face in his hair.

"She wasn't supposed to do that," Nic murmurs a few minutes later. My eyebrows furrow.

"Huh?"

"Tessa. I told her to privately send you the video, not post it on fucking Facebook where the entire fucking world could see."

I laugh. "What? Are you upset that people will know you actually have feelings now?"

"No," Nic say. "I don't care that other people saw it. It's just…" He huffs. "It didn't—you know…take away from it?"

His tone is far from sounding anxious, but the fact that he even asked that gives him away. Moved by his concern, I smile and wrap my arms tightly around his back.

"No," I whisper to him. "Not at all."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Oh…Well, I guess it's all right then."

"More than all right. Try perfect."

Nic lets out a relieved breath and melts into me, all the tension leaving his body with the exhale.

"Good," he whispers back, his lips pulling into a smile against my skin.

The next several minutes pass by quietly. I spend the time twining my fingers through his hair, listening to his breathing and how slow and deep it becomes. But just when I think he's fallen asleep, Nic begins to trace a finger along my collarbone.

"So," he says.

"So," I echo back.

"What's your plan?"

"Well, I'll probably stay here to do nursing. Or maybe I'll take a semester or two off to do something with music?" I shrug. "I don't really know. To be honest, I haven't thought that far ahead."

"And you're okay with that?" Nic asks, just a bit skeptically. I place two fingers under his chin and use them to tilt it up so he can see my sincerity when I tell him:

"Yes, thanks to you."

Nic clasps my wrist, his lips twitching into a vague smile. He doesn't say anything; he just holds my gaze as he rubs his thumb over my pulse.

And, with each second that goes by, his face becomes more and more serious and profound, while the intensity in his grey eyes deepens, until finally—

"I meant it, you know," he whispers.

"I know." I nod, leaning in to press my lips to his. "And I love you too, Nic Gracy."

At those words, the air rushes from Nic's lungs in a shuddering whoosh. His eyes fall close and he squeezes my wrist with trembling fingers.

"You mean that," he says. It is not a question. Still, I answer it as one.

"More than anything."

Nic exhales hard again, but this time in a breathy, joyous laugh. He opens his eyes and the look he gives me right before he pulls me into a kiss makes all that we've gone through to get to this point well worth it.

It makes everything absolutely perfect.

The End