“Shut up,” I murmured, though I couldn’t stop smiling.
That was when his hand found my waist — just resting there, warm and steady. Not asking, not pushing. Justthere.
And instead of pulling away, I shifted closer, knees brushing his.
“You’re trouble,” I whispered.
“Yeah,” he breathed back, thumb stroking a lazy circle against my hip. “But I think you like it.”
And I did…
God help me, I did.
My hand found his chest, then his neck… it was likeIcouldn’t stop touching him either.
Like we were in this secret place where the rules might not exist, where we don’t have to beAnselandJuniper.
Like maybe… right here… I could just behis.
And him? God — he was gone. Absolutely gone. I could see it in his eyes, the softness that lingered when he thought I wasn’t watching. Whenno onewas watching. At some point… I think this had stopped being pretend. His thumb tracing soft circles on my skin… his eyes on my mouth like it was the only thing in the room.
“Junie,” he murmured, voice wrecked but patient,so very patient, “tell me to stop.”
“Don’t,” was all I could say, heart heavy with whatever was hanging in the air around us. “Ansel,” my throat was thick with tears… and I had no idea where they came from.
“Sleep, baby.” He replied, tugging me against him. He guided my head towards his chest, hand tangling with my hair as he whispered unintelligible words against the crown of my head. “We’ve had a long day. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
And for once… I think I believed him.
CHAPTER 39
Icouldn’t sit still. I stood.
Sat.
Stood again.
Paced the room.
She’d been in the bathroom for over an hour. We weren’t late, not even close, but I wasdyingto see her. I’d fixed my coat a hundred times or more.
Shoved my hands in my pockets.
Considered knocking on the door…justto check on her.
But I’d refrained.
I deserved a fucking medal.
When the door finally opened…
Christ.
“Jesus, kid,” I breathed, low, reverent. “You’re… wow.”
She fidgeted… not quite meeting my eyes. “You bought it.”
“Yeah,” I said, a slow grin tugging at my lips as she stepped closer. “But you’re the one making it illegal to look at you.”
