Licensed to Swoon Chapter Twenty Seven

licensed to swoon chapter twenty seven

RAVEN

On the balcony, the Sydney Opera House off in the distance, my hands tremble as I face Jack, the weight of unspoken words hanging between us. The distant sounds of the gala fade away, leaving only the thundering of my heart in my ears.

“We can't keep doing this,” I whisper, my voice barely audible above the gentle night breeze.

Jack's brow furrows and he steps closer, only a foot away. "Doing what?" he asks, his eyes searching mine with an intensity that makes my breath catch.

I fiddle with my bracelet. “Pretending. Lying." I swallow hard, forcing myself to continue. "To everyone. To ourselves." I take a shaky breath, feeling the rules of the agency, the rules that have become a wall around my heart begin to crumble. "Jack, I…” My words trail off as I second-guess myself.

He closes the distance between us. His hand reaches up, fingers ghosting along my cheek. "Say it, Raven. Please."

Tears prick at my eyes as I finally let the truth spill out. "I love you," I breathe, the words both terrifying and liberating. "Heaven help me, I've tried not to, but I can't fight it anymore."

Jack's eyes widen, a mix of surprise and elation crossing his features. For a moment, he's silent, and I fear I've made a terrible mistake. But then his hand cups my face, thumb gently wiping away a tear I didn't realize had fallen.

"Raven," he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. "I love you too. I think I have from the beginning—ever since you sneezed in my face in the air vents in Morocco.”

Time seems to stand still as we gaze at each other, years of longing and suppressed feelings bubbling to the surface. Slowly, achingly slowly, Jack leans in. I feel his breath, warm against my lips. I smell his aftershave, musky with a hint of cedar. My eyes flutter closed in anticipation.

When our lips finally meet, it's soft, almost reverent. A sharp contrast to the passionate, adrenaline-fueled missions we’re always on. Jack's lips are gentle against mine, as if he's afraid I might disappear if he pushes too hard.

I melt against him, my hands sliding up to rest on his chest. I can feel his heartbeat, racing as fast as my own. The kiss deepens gradually, like a slow-burning fire gaining strength. Jack's arm wraps around my waist, pulling me closer.

Years of tension pour into the kiss as it grows more passionate. My fingers thread through his hair, and I feel rather than hear the low groan that escapes him. His tongue traces my lower lip, asking for permission that I eagerly grant.

When we finally part, we're both breathless. I open my eyes to find Jack looking at me with such tenderness it makes my heart ache.

"Well," I manage to say, a smile tugging at my lips. "That was..."

"Yeah," Jack agrees, his smile widening. "It was."

He leans his forehead against mine, and for a moment, we stand there, savoring the closeness.

"So," Jack murmurs after a while, his voice husky. "What happens now? "

I bite my lip, considering. But now that I’ve had a taste, I want all of him. And I want it now. Feeling bold, I take his hand. "Your room or mine?" I ask, my voice low and full of promise.

Jack's eyes darken with desire. "Yours," he says, bringing my hand to his lips for a soft kiss. "Lead the way."

As we slip into the hotel, the sounds of the gala fade behind us. The click of my heels on marble floors echoes in the empty corridor, in time to the racing of my heart. Jack's hand is warm in mine, an anchor that keeps my feet on the ground. Which is good. I feel light enough, euphoric enough to float away.

We reach my door, and as I slide the keycard, I feel Jack's arms encircle my waist from behind. His lips find the sensitive spot just below my ear, and I gasp softly, fumbling with the door handle.

Finally, the door swings open. I turn in Jack's arms, meeting his gaze once more. The love and desire I see there mirror my own, and I know that tonight, everything changes.

As we step over the threshold together, the door clicking shut behind us, the rest of the world fades away. Tonight, we’re not agents on a mission to protect our country. Tonight, we're just Jack and Raven, two people in love, finally allowing themselves to fall…