Somehow, Andrew and I were able to get over with the concert without much distractions. I could feel the tension between us, crackling like static electricity, even when we were completing our meet and greet sessions with the fans.

We had a lot to talk about. And for the first time, I found myself wishing for the concert to get over sooner.

We were in Rome, and the next day, we would be travelling to Milan via a short flight. It was around ten at night when I was finally able to get into my hotel room and walk into the bathroom, letting out a sigh of relief when the cold water hit my face.

Between the busy singing and the meet and greets, Andrew and I had not been able to catch a single moment of privacy. We snuck glances at each other, and embarrassingly looked at away, as if we were caught doing something notorious. If anybody noticed the tension, they didn't point it out.

I looked at myself in the mirror while I brushed my teeth, a million thoughts racing through my brain. After rinsing my mouth, I grabbed a clutcher and started tying my hair into a knot, placing the clutcher on the knot when I heard the door of my room softly click close.

I whirled around, ready to throw a comb at the intruder if necessary, but stopped when I realised it was Andrew. He had changed into normal clothes, just like me, and was wearing a simple green t-shirt and a grey track pant.

I coughed. "Do you know that trespassing on private land is a punishable offense and can end you up in jail?"

He stopped in front of the door, looking so uncomfortably awkward that I had to laugh.

"Chill," I said and walked out of the bathroom, closing it's door behind me.

Andrew had his eyes trained on me as I leaned against the bathroom door. "I didn't know if you'd want to see me," he said.

I quirked my lip upwards. "So you sneak in?"

He smiled at that and gave a careless shrug. "I guess?"

I bit my lip softly as we looked at each other, the moments stretching out and none of us said a word. The smile slipped from his face.

"I-I got the key card from reception."

"Oh, cool."

We became quiet once more.

"They gave it to me without any questions because they knew that you and I–we—"

"Yeah, I get it," I chuckled lightly.

Silence stretched between us before Andrew took a small step towards me. "About earlier—"

"I feel the same," I blurted out.

He stopped dead, blinking at me in surprise. "What?" He breathed out, his voice holding an edge of incredulity. I licked my lips and pushed myself away from the door, standing straight. It was now or never.

"I-I feel the same about you, Andrew," I said. "All the—everything that you said, that's what I feel about you too."

I saw him swallow hard as he stared at me, eyes wide.

"Why didn't I tell you before?" I took a step towards him. "I think the best possible explanation for that is–I was in denial. I was scared that if we started dating, then our entire friendship would get ruined."

I took another step towards him, and now I was standing at a hand's distance from him. From here, I could see his lashes flutter against his cheeks as he blinked. "But I can't, I just can't keep denying what I feel for you, Andrew. Not anymore. I'm done denying, I'm done being afraid. Whatever happens, will happen, and that too we will overcome together."

I let out a shaky breath after I finished speaking. Andrew hadn't moved from his place, standing so still, he almost looked like a statue.

I gave out a nervous laugh. "Are you just going to stand there?"

That seemed to light a fire in him and in the next second, he had crossed the distance between us and had taken a hold of my forearms. His forehead touched mine briefly and we breathed the same air for a moment before his lips descended on mine.

I instantly kissed him back, my arms wrapping automatically behind his neck. His hands gripped my hips, before wrapping it around my waist, making my body arch into his in such a way, it made me catch my breath. The kiss was intense and langourous. I tilted my head upwards to fit my mouth properly to his, swallowing his taste and memorising the feel. His hands slipped under my t-shirt and I jumped, letting out a sigh into his mouth. He inched the cloth up my back and broke away from the kiss, taking hold of my t-shirt and throwing it up and over my head.

We collided against each other. Andrew slowly loosened my hair from the bun, the clutcher clattering on the floor, as his tongue stroked mine, my stomach tightening with desire. He took hold of my hips and we crashed against the bed, Andrew hurrying out of his clothes.

His pale green t-shirt fell on the floor, and he drew me towards him. I sat on my knees as he started kissing the hollow of my throat; my head fell back, eyes slipping shut. My hands found his bare chest, his shoulders, and I heard his breathing quicken.

"Tell me you love me," he said roughly into my skin, like a child starving for food for many days. "Tell me, please, I need to hear it."

"I love you," I gasped out, and he looked up, staring into my eyes. They were almost black. "I love you, Andrew Silva. I love you more than starlight."

His face crumbled away into a pained look and he let out a needy groan as he pushed us back onto the bed, me landing on top of him. Our lips found each other once again, kissing so hard that we weren't kissing as much as devouring each other. He sat up, with me on his lap, our lips never leaving, and grabbed my hair, pulling at it. I moaned into his mouth and bit his lip. Andrew sucked in a breath of air and grabbed my hips, flipping us over.

It seemed like neither of us could stop kissing. We sucked and kissed each other's lips until they were throbbing, and we didn't stop still.

"I want it slow," I heard myself say into his mouth. "I want to feel you. I want to feel everything."

Andrew broke away from the kiss and looked at me, wincing lightly, as if he were looking at the sun. He grinned wickedly and said, "Then slow it is."

And slow it was. Unhurriedly, he discarded off the rest of our clothes until we were skin to skin, heartbeat against heartbeat. I could feel him hard against my thigh as he started sprinkling kisses all over my skin: my hands, my neck, my chest, my stomach. By the time he had reached my hip, I was whimpering slightly. He chuckled against my skin and moved his attention to even more sensitive places, and the world went white behind my eyes.

After I had screamed his name raw a thousand times over, he came up to my face, and reached out his hand to move damp hair away from my eyes. I let out a whimper as his lips fell on mine and he finally united our bodies, moving as one, and falling together.

Because that was what we would be forevermore: together.

* * *

My head lay on Andrew's chest as the pale moonlight poured into the room, illuminating every curve and indentation of his chest and stomach. I reached out and splayed my hand over his stomach, marvelling at the feeling of his smooth skin under my palm.

Our hearts had finally stopped beating frantically and was coming down to a much slower rhythm, and I reveled in the feeling of hearing his heartbeat under my ear. Andrew had his arm thrown over my shoulder, caging me against his body. He gathered a handful of my hair in his free hand and entwined it around his fingers.

"'O, love’s best habit is in seeming trust,
And age in love loves not to have years told,'" he murmured and pressed the strands against his lips. "'Therefore I lie with her and she with me, And in our faults by lies we flatter’d be.'"

The sight of him kissing my hair sent a jolt of something feral through my blood. I raised my head to look at him.

"Shakespeare?" I raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Shut up," said Andrew. "I'm in a vulnerable moment right now." He almost sounded drunk, but I could see from the tiny curve of his mouth that he was smiling softly.

I crossed my arms over his chest and rested my head on them. "I never took you to be that guy."

"What guy?"

"You know," I said, "the reciting-poem-after-sex guy."

He looked amused. "What kind of guy did you take me to be then?"

I smiled crookedly. "The macho, bad boy, leather jacket, never groans during sex kinda guy."

Andrew choked, his eyes flying open. "What?"

I barked out a laugh as he flushed red. Clearing his throat, he tried to look menacing, but failed adorably. I giggled and weaved a hand through his wild hair.

"I like it, though," I said. He looked at me questioningly. "The poem reciting thing. I should say, it's quite the turn on."

Andrew's gaze sharpened. "Oh, really?"

"Mmm-hmm." My mouth suddenly felt dry. He was looking at me just like the way he had looked when I had told him I love him. I swallowed.

"And are you?" Andrew asked, his voice low and husky. "Turned on right now?"

My mouth fell open but no words came out. I felt his hand travel down my back, skimming over my curves before landing on my butt, pulling me against him.

Somehow, I was able to quirk my lip upwards, giving him a sly smile. "I don't know," I purred, and grabbed his hand to rest it between my legs. "What does it look like?"

He growled and pushed me back onto the soft covers with him, my laughter ringing out in the room.

And in that moment, I was happy. Happier than what I had ever been in my entire life. And that's all I could ever ask for.

• • •

I'm not crying. You are.

Cuz this is it. This is the end (epilogue is coming tho).

I'm not the sentimental kind of person but I'm really feeling it right now. This book is legit my baby.

Thank you so much to everyone who have been with me on my journey. I love you.

So, one last time.