“That should do it.” Reeve set the clipboard aside. “Thanks for staying to help.”
I shrugged and forced myself to sound casual. “It was no problem.”
We turned to leave the supply room together, the narrow doorway forcing me to trail just behind him. My foot caught on the edge of the mat, and I stumbled forward before I could catch myself. I ran straight into his back, my face pressing against the hard planes.
Reeve swore under his breath as he turned, his hands coming up instantly to steady me. One wrapped around my arm, the other braced my waist. His touch was meant to keep me from falling, but it made me weak in the knees.
“Shit,” he muttered, more to himself than to me.
Our faces were so close I could feel his breath against my cheek and smell the faint scent of soap on his skin. His grip tightened for half a second, just long enough to tell me he felt the magnetic pull between us, too.
I probably should’ve tossed out some smart remark to shatter the electric tension that had been crackling between us for days. But I was frozen by the need I saw in his dark eyes to move.
He dipped his head slow enough that I could’ve stopped him, but I didn’t even try.
Then his mouth was on mine, and it wasn’t gentle. The kiss was hot, hungry, and devastating to my senses. A low soundescaped me as his tongue pushed past my lips, stroking deep and tasting like everything I’d been trying not to want.
My fingers curled into his leather vest, my nails digging in as I went up on my toes, kissing him back just as hard. His hand at my waist slid up my spine, fisting in my hair to tilt my head exactly where he wanted it. The other dropped from my arm to palm my butt, pressing me against the hard ridge straining behind his zipper.
Heat roared through me, unlike anything I had ever experienced. I rocked against him shamelessly, drowning in the way he growled into my mouth like he was feeling just as desperate as I was.
Then he ripped his lips from mine, and I whimpered in protest. His hands flexed on me like letting go physically hurt him.
We were both breathing like we’d run miles—although I doubted he’d actually be this winded, considering he was clearly in amazing shape. His forehead dropped to mine, his eyes so dark they looked black. “Elena, I want you. But this isn’t the right time or place.”
That was the last thing I wanted to hear after my first real kiss, but I resisted the urge to protest and let go of his vest. Reeve stepped back, putting space between us and leaving me shaken in a way I didn’t expect. All I knew was that there was no going back to how things had been between us before.
I nodded, because it felt like the only thing I could do. “Okay.”
I didn’t understand why now wasn’t the right time, and he didn’t explain. Before I could figure out what else to say, he grabbed his jacket and motioned toward the door. “I’ll walk you.”
The routine should have reassured me, but all I felt was cold from the loss of his touch.
We locked up and stepped into the cool night air. He fell into step beside me, close enough that I could feel him there without touching. For a block or two, we walked in silence.
“What time is your first class tomorrow?” he finally asked.
I blinked up at him. “Nine. Why?”
He didn’t answer my question and asked another of his own instead. “And you’re going to Marks’s studio when you’re done?”
“Yeah.”
“Then back to your apartment before walking here after?”
I nodded again. “Like usual.”
He slowed as we turned onto my street. “If you’re running late, let me know.”
The request was simple, but I liked that he was concerned about me. We walked another block in silence, my thoughts spiraling.
“I hope I didn’t make things weird,” I finally murmured. “Bumping into you like that and with the…um…kiss.”
His jaw tightened. “You didn’t.”
“Then why does it feel like I did?”
“That’s on me.” He exhaled slowly through his nose. “I should’ve handled it better.”
