Mateo's hands slide up, firm but tender, until they're cradling the back of my neck. He pulls me down so our faces are almost touching, his voice low and certain. "You're so beautiful, Philip."
Heat rushes to my cheeks instantly. I duck my head a little, mumbling, "You're just saying that." I can't hold his gaze for long, it's too much, too intense. Still, I can't deny the way it makes my chest ache in the best way.
Honestly, I could stay like this forever, Mateo's bare skin pressed against mine, the warmth of his body wrapping around me like a blanket. Forget food, water, or sleep. Just this, just him, until the end of time.
"No," he says firmly, shaking his head. His nose brushes mine in the gentlest touch, almost like a promise. "I mean it. I think you're the most beautiful person I've ever met. Beautiful inside, beautiful outside."
