AIDEN.
A moment passed.
And another.
And another again. Yet, I didn't know what to say. Or how to react to the words leaving Nala's mouth. I could feel the tightness in my chest increase, the way my throat clogged, making it nearly impossible to breath or swallow properly. I could hear the pounding in my head.
The world went momentarily soundless, devoid of noise except for the sound of my heart tendons stretching, on the verge of snapping under the pressure of wonder she's just stuffed inside of it. There was a pulsing squeeze in the dead center of my body, demanding that I give her a response. But all I could do was stare down at her, and I guess my lack of response prompted her to speak again.
"I want you to mark me, Aiden," she said, a bit breathless as she looked up at me throu
