Reaching for the door handle, I try to take a deep breath, but when the third attempt doesn’t work, I know nothing is going to help me or fuel me with the confidence I need, so I throw cautionto the wind and put enough weight on the door handle for the latch to release.
My door creaks open one inch at a time, the sound stiff in the air, but it doesn't quite open up enough for me to see the person seated on my bed while remaining in the hallway.
I have to enter.
With staggered breaths, I take one step, then another, before the familiar black clothing comes into view. Black sneakers are planted on the floor, shoulder width apart, their elbows leaning against their thighs with their fingers laced together, while their head remains dipped, their hoodie obscuring them from view.
My heart is one beat away from exploding in my chest as I dare to take another step deeper into the room. That single movement triggers a heat breeze around me, followed swiftly by thethudof my bedroom door closing.
I jolt. My breath stutters in my chest as I curl my hands into fists at my sides, ready to unleash God knows what at this person. But before I can do a single thing, they lift their hands.
Excruciatingly slowly, they peel the gloves off each finger, revealing one hand at a time. With care and precision, the gloves are placed at the foot of the bed.
Their head remains downcast, and there's not a single clue about who the person is from their hands. I silently vow to myself that from this day forward, I will always know who someone is based on such a body part. If I live to see another day. I may be standing here awaiting my demise.
My tongue is like lead in my mouth, leaving me unable to speak and completely locked in to their every move.
I’m at their mercy, just like they want.
My next breath lodges in my throat as they reach for their hood, slowly letting it fall.
I gape, lightheaded, and drowning.
“You said you wanted to watch me burn,” he rasps, heat lapping through my veins. It feels like every inch of my body is engulfed in flames.
He stands, tugging the sleeves off his arms before reaching over his shoulder and pulling the fabric over his head to reveal a chiseled chest and abs. The sweatpants cling to his legs, and the cords in his forearms bunch together, all while his eyes remain locked on mine.
“I’ll burn for you. All or nothing. When it comes down to it, whether it's fate or choice, Ichoosehot.” He shudders, his chest rising and falling in quick succession with every breath he takes, his eyes wild storms.
“Thorne,” I breathe, still entranced as he kicks his shoes off, slips his hands beneath the waistband of his pants, and lets them fall to the floor.
“Are you going to burn with me?” he asks, and I run my tongue over my bottom lip.
My mind reels with even more questions than before I ran up the stairs, but despite the uncertainty, my mind centers, my brain goes calm, and my world stills as I offerhiman answer instead.
“Yes.”
One single word has him striding toward me like a predator, hands reaching for my waist before he lifts me in the air, bringing us chest to chest. My legs wrap around his middle instinctively as the tip of his nose grazes mine and our breaths mingle together.
“I’m going to learn everything there is to know about you, Echo. The good, the bad. I'm going to make you mine in every way possible. So be careful, because once we set fire to this, there's no putting it out. Do you understand?” he asks, huskily, making my throat dry.
He turns on the spot, eliminating the few steps needed to return to my bed, but he doesn't lower me down. If anything, he holds me tighter.
I reach for his face, curling my hand around his chin as I press my fingers into his cheeks. Leaning closer, my lips brush against his as I speak. “Yes.”
Our lips collide in the next moment, both of us fighting for an air of authority as the kiss deepens and our bond tightens. His fingers dig into my thighs as he keeps me held in the air.
I'm certain it's just a distraction tactic so he can try to gain control, but I’m more than happy to play. Raking my teeth over his bottom lip, he groans. The outline of his cock presses between my thighs as my legs tighten around his waist.
“Put me down, Thorne,” I order as his dark, hazy eyes meet mine. “Now,” I add, and his grip on my thighs loosens as he slowly drops my legs so my feet can touch the floor.
Dropping to my knees in an instant, I reach for the waistline of his boxers, but pause before I touch him. “Do you want me to wear the gloves?” I ask, and he shakes his head.
My teeth sink into my bottom lip as I give him a few seconds to reconsider, but all he does is bring his hands to mine, encouraging me.
His boxer shorts pool at his feet a moment later, and his cock springs free, making my mouth dry as I take in the sight of him. My thighs clench together with excitement as I lean closer, running the tip of my nose along his length. His head falls back on a gasp as I retrace my steps, only this time it's with my tongue, and he shudders, falling back onto my bed with a muffledthudas his legs widen, making room for me to slip between them.
My fingertips ghost across his skin as I inch in closer, eyes latched on his as my mouth finds his tip. Swirling my tongue around the head, I watch as his eyes dance, the storm brewingeven brighter, and I'm ready for us to find the eye at the center before he explodes.
