I lean forward, elbows on my knees, hands clasped. “You fit here. With me. With Holly. With… everything. I didn’t expect that. Didn’t want to expect that. But I can’t pretend it’s not happening.”
She swallows hard. Her gaze flicks to the bedroom where Holly sleeps, then back to me.
“I didn’t expect any of this either,” she admits. “You’re… a lot.”
I huff a laugh. “Yeah. I know.”
“But you’re also… good.” Her voice softens. “And steady. And impossible to ignore.”
My heart stutters. She edges closer — barely a shift, her knee brushing mine. A soft jolt of heat shoots up my leg. Her eyes drop to where our knees touch, and she exhales shakily.
“Ash?” she murmurs.
“Yeah.”
“If you’re trying to be careful, you’re doing a terrible job.”
“I know.” My voice is quiet, raw. “Because every time I’m near you, I forget why I’m supposed to be.”
Her lips curve — small, stunned, aching. I reach out before I can stop myself, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. Her breath shivers. She leans — barely — into the touch.
I don’t pull back. Neither does she.
Her hand lifts, fingertips grazing my jaw. My breath catches. Her thumb sweeps along the line of my cheekbone, slow and warm. It’s nothing. Just a touch. But it’s alsoeverything.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I say, voice thick.
“Like what?”
“Like I’m the only thing in the room.”
Her lips part. “Ash… maybe you are.”
That does it. I move without thinking. My hand slides to her waist, pulling her closer. Her breath catches, her fingers curling lightly against my neck.
We’re inches apart. Too close. Not close enough. Her eyes flick to my mouth, and her voice breaks in a whisper: “I don’t want to leave tonight.”
My control fractures.
“Lucy,” I murmur, “don’t say that unless you mean it.”
Her fingers tighten at the back of my neck.
“I mean it.”
A sound leaves me — rough, low, half a curse. I lean in until my forehead meets hers, breathing her in, fighting the urge to close the last inch between us.
Her hands slide down my chest, slow, gentle, shaking.
“Ash…” she breathes.
I cup her face, thumb brushing her cheek. “I’ve wanted you since the first minute I saw you.”
She swallows hard. “Then why haven’t you?—”
“Because once I start,” I say roughly, “there’s no stopping. Not with you.”
She trembles. “Ash…”
