Unbroken: A Love That Defies the World – by L.J. Hart – Chapter 13: A Love That Refuses to Break

Unbroken: A Love That Defies the World – by L.J. Hart – Chapter 13: A Love That Refuses to Break

The following days felt like walking a narrow bridge between fear and defiance. Every morning, Ethan returned to school. The stares were still there. The whispers hadn’t vanished. But with each step, the weight of them grew lighter—not because the cruelty was fading, but because his endurance was growing.

Because for every cruel glance, there was Zoe’s bright smile at his locker.
For every muttered insult, there was Nathan’s quiet encouragement before bed.
For every flash of doubt, there was the steady pulse of his own heart whispering: You’re still here. You’re still you.

And that was enough.

One evening, after another long day, Ethan returned to Nathan’s apartment, dropping his bag with a heavy sigh. Nathan greeted him at the door, pulling him immediately into a tight embrace.

“You did it again,” Nathan whispered into his hair.

“I don’t know if I can keep doing it,” Ethan whispered back, his voice trembling. “Every day feels like a battle.”

Nathan pulled back just enough to cup Ethan’s face in his hands. “Then let me fight with you.”

Ethan swallowed hard. “Sometimes I wish I could just leave this town. Forget all of it. Start over somewhere they don’t know me.”

“We will,” Nathan promised softly. “One day, we’ll leave this place behind. But until then, we face it together.”

Nathan’s eyes softened as he brushed his thumbs gently along Ethan’s jaw. “Do you have any idea how proud I am of you?”

Ethan’s throat tightened. “I’m not as strong as you think.”

“You’re stronger than you know,” Nathan said fiercely. “Every day you walk into that school, you prove it. And even when you don’t believe in yourself—I believe in you. I always will.”

Later that night, as they lay tangled beneath the sheets, Nathan’s fingers trailed lightly along Ethan’s bare back. There was no rush, no frantic urgency—just slow, gentle connection, as if they were re-learning every inch of each other’s bodies.

“You don’t have to hold back with me, you know,” Nathan whispered softly, his breath warm against Ethan’s skin.

“I know,” Ethan replied, his voice tender. “I don’t want to hide anything from you. Not anymore.”

Their lips met in a kiss that deepened quickly, not with desperation, but with quiet intensity. As they moved together, their bodies slowly finding that familiar rhythm, Ethan clung to Nathan like a lifeline.

Nathan whispered between kisses:
“You’re beautiful.”
“You’re safe.”
“You’re mine.”

And Ethan answered with a voice that trembled but held fierce honesty:
“I love you.”
“I’m yours.”
“Always.”

The world outside could crumble, but in this space—in this bed, in Nathan’s arms—Ethan felt whole.

As they reached their peak together, there were no tears this time. No broken sobs. Only deep, shuddering breaths and the quiet sound of hearts finally beating in unison.

When it was over, Nathan pulled Ethan against him, their bodies slick with sweat, limbs tangled. They lay there in silence, simply breathing each other in.

It was Ethan who spoke first. His voice was soft, but certain.

“We’re really going to leave one day, aren’t we?”

Nathan kissed his temple. “Yes. We are.”

“And we’ll find a place where people like my father… like everyone here… don’t matter anymore?”

Nathan smiled faintly. “A place where you can be yourself without fear. Where we can be us out loud.”

Ethan closed his eyes, resting his head against Nathan’s chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. For the first time, that dream felt real—not just a fantasy they whispered about in the dark, but something possible. Something worth fighting for.

“I want that so badly,” Ethan whispered.

Nathan’s voice was steady. “Then we’ll build it. Together.”

The silence that followed was warm. Comforting.

A promise sealed between them.

No matter what the world threw at them, their love would not break.

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