She didn’t realize when it happened—when his presence went from familiar to overwhelming. One moment they were talking, the next she was backed gently against the wall, his arms on either side of her, leaving no space to escape.
Not that she wanted to.
“Nowhere to go,” he whispered, his voice low and dangerously calm.
Her heart raced, but she lifted her chin slightly, meeting his gaze. “Who said I’m trying to leave?”
That answer changed everything.
His eyes darkened just a little before he leaned closer, closing the gap inch by inch. She could feel his breath against her lips, warm and teasing, making it impossible to think straight.
“You don’t make this easy,” he murmured.
“Maybe I’m not supposed to.”
And then—his lips were on hers.
The kiss was deep, intense, and consuming, like all the tension between them had finally found a way out. She gasped softly, her hands instinctively gripping his shoulders as he pulled her closer, leaving no space between them.
She was trapped.
Between his arms. Between his warmth. Between a kiss that refused to stay soft.
It grew stronger, more demanding, stealing her breath and replacing it with something far more dangerous. Her thoughts blurred, her control slipping with every second she stayed there, pressed against him.
She should have pushed him away.
She didn’t.
Instead, she leaned in further, answering him with the same fire, the same urgency. The world outside faded, leaving only this moment—this closeness she couldn’t escape even if she tried.
When they finally paused, her forehead resting lightly against his, her voice came out barely steady.
“I think I’m stuck.”
A quiet smile touched his lips.
“Exactly where you want to be.”