The tension had been building for too long.
Ava leaned against the wall, arms crossed, pretending she wasn’t affected. But the way her eyes followed him gave everything away.
“You like this, don’t you?” he said, stepping closer. “Pretending you don’t feel anything.”
She smirked. “Maybe I just don’t feel anything for you.”
He stopped right in front of her—close enough to make her breath hitch.
“Say that again,” he challenged softly.
Her confidence faltered for just a second. And he noticed.
“That’s what I thought,” he murmured.
Before she could react, his hand lightly caught her wrist—not tight, just enough to stop her from walking away. The contact sent a spark through her body, sharp and impossible to ignore.
“You’re trouble,” she whispered.
“And you still came closer,” he replied.
She didn’t pull away.
Instead, she stepped in—closing the last bit of space between them. Her heartbeat was loud now, her calm act completely gone.
“This is a bad idea,” she said quietly.
“Then why does it feel right?” he asked.
Silence.
Then everything shifted.
Her hand slid up to his collar, pulling him just slightly closer. That was all the permission he needed. He leaned in, slow and deliberate, giving her time to stop him.
She didn’t.
Their lips met—soft at first, then deeper, more intense. It wasn’t just a kiss. It was tension finally breaking, control slipping away piece by piece.
Her back pressed against the wall as he held her close, not letting the moment escape.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathless.
“This changes everything,” she said.
He gave a faint smile, still inches away.
“Good,” he replied. “I was tired of pretending it didn’t.”
And neither of them tried to stop what came next.