“Only yours.” She bit her lip like she knew exactly what she was doing—and yeah, she did. It was infuriating.
I took another step, close enough to feel the heat radiating off her. Her breath caught.
“Is it so wrong to want attention?” she asked, teasing but quieter this time.
“No,” I said, voice low. “But don’t act surprised when you get all of mine.”
And I meant it. Every breath, every glance, every damn second—she had it all. Her teasing grin faltered just enough to make my pulse kick. Then it shifted—softened—into something quieter, more honest. “Is that a threat or a promise?” she asked, voice light but edged with something real.
“That depends,” I murmured, my voice dropping as I stepped in close, “on how you want to take it.”
I should’ve backed off. I knew how dangerous it was—how close we were to crossing a line we couldn’t uncross. But I didn’t move. I reached up instead, letting my thumb graze the mark on her neck. The same one I’d left there. This time, my touch was gentler, reverent. A quiet acknowledgment of what was already brewing between us.
She sucked in a sharp breath, and the sound hit me low and deep. Heat flared in my chest, spiraling down my spine. Every part of me was aware of her—all of her.
Then she asked it, her voice barely above a whisper: “What do you want from me?”
That sliver of vulnerability in her tone undid something in me. All the tension, all the restraint—it cracked wide open. I met her eyes, didn’t look away. Didn’t let her.
“I want you here,” I said, steady and sure. “All of you.”
The room went still. The air thick with things unsaid, with possibility. She didn’t move. Neither did I. We just stood there, suspended between who we were and whatever the hell we were becoming. And for the first time in years, I didn’t feel like running.
The air crackled between us, thick with unspoken words and tension. I felt every heartbeat pulse through the silence as her gaze flickered from my eyes to my lips. And then she leaned in, just a fraction, but it was enough.
I closed the distance.
Her mouth met mine softly at first, like we were both testing the waters. But then something inside me snapped—some instinct that told me to dive deeper, to explore. I pulled her closer, my hands framing her face, fingers tangling in her hair as our kiss deepened.
Mina tasted like warmth and sweetness, a rush of everything that made sense and nothing that did all at once. She responded with a breathless sigh that sent a jolt through me. I hadn’t anticipated how it would feel—this raw connection—that everything else in the world faded into a dull hum.
The kiss stretched on, timeless. It felt electric, sparking all those dark corners of myself I usually kept locked away. I let myself drown in it; every ounce of doubt evaporated as she melted against me, pressing closer like she wanted to become part of me.
My heart thundered in my chest, wild and reckless as if it had come alive for the first time in years. It was dangerous territory we were treading; the thrill of kissing her felt like skating on thin ice—beautiful but risky. I could easily lose myself in this moment and forget the bet hanging over our heads like an executioner’s axe.
But I didn’t care about consequences right then.
Her fingers slipped beneath my shirt, tracing the contours of my chest—a featherlight touch that sent a shiver racing down my spine. I groaned softly into her mouth, and she responded with a quiet hum that ignited something primal within me.
I couldn’t help myself. The moment I felt her warmth against me, every thought melted away. I lifted her effortlessly, my hands slipping beneath her thighs as I pulled her closer. Her breath hitched, and that sound fueled the fire burning deep in my chest.
With a gentle push, I backed into the bedroom, my lips never leaving hers. The door clicked shut behind us, sealing off the rest of the world. My heart raced; the air thickened with something electric and dangerous.
As I laid her on the bed, I paused for just a heartbeat to take her in—eyes wide, lips swollen from our kiss, hair spilling around her like silk. She looked so inviting, so impossibly beautiful, it made something inside me ache.
I leaned over her, our breaths mingling as I pressed another kiss to her lips before trailing down to the curve of her neck. Her skin tasted like warmth and possibility, igniting a hunger that spread through me like wildfire.
My hands found the hem of her hoodie. I hesitated for just a second—this was new territory—but the look in her eyes urged me on. With deliberate slowness, I lifted the fabric, exposing soft skin beneath.
With each inch of fabric that peeled away from her body, anticipation thrummed between us. My fingers grazed over smooth curves as if memorizing every detail—the way she shivered under my touch sent sparks racing through my veins.
The hoodie fell away completely, pooling around her waist. She bit her lip as my gaze roamed over her—her confidence shining through despite the vulnerability of being laid bare before me.
“Gorgeous,” I breathed out reverently. Each word felt heavy with sincerity as my fingers traced the outline of her hips.
Her cheeks flushed under my gaze—a mixture of heat and shyness that made me crave more of this closeness between us.
I leaned down again, pressing soft kisses along her sides and back up toward those tempting lips—my heart pounding as desire twisted tight in my gut. This was no longer just about a bet or possession; it was something deeper—and for once in my life; I wanted to savor it all.
