“Please do,” Xayden grumbles, sliding his hand from my waist to my arm and tugging me closer, like he’s making a point.
I feel a flush climbing my cheeks, but I can’t help smiling at the exasperation on both of their faces. Todd shakes his head, backing out of the room with exaggerated slowness before rolling his eyes and disappearing into the hall.
Xayden lets out a dramatic sigh as soon as Todd’s gone, leaning in to brush his nose against mine in a teasing, affectionate gesture. “Where were we?” he murmurs, eyes shining with a warmth that makes my heart flutter.
I laugh, threading my fingers through his hair. “I think,” I say, “we were just getting started.”
CHAPTER 44
Xayden
I watch Todd walk away,stifling the urge to chuck one of these plush pillows at the back of his head. The guy has the absolute worst timing—always did—but I can’t help the grin tugging at my lips.
I let out a slow breath, my fingers still resting lightly on Ash’s arm. The tension swirling around us settles again, and I shift my gaze back to her. She meets my eyes, and there’s an electricity there that makes my pulse pound harder.
Her hair’s a bit disheveled from the tumble we took into this nest area, and her cheeks are pink—probably from Todd’s interruption, or maybe from the way we were just tangled up in each other. Either way, it’s…adorable. Makes me feel like every bone in my body’s buzzing with adrenaline.
“Where were we?” I say, brushing her nose with mine.
“I think,” she says, “we were just getting started.”
I smile. “Yes we were,” I grumble, sliding my hand lower to curl around her waist again. “Next time, I’ll barricade the door.”
She laughs, the sound sweet but still carrying a hint of breathlessness from our little escapade. “I’ve survived worse than Todd’s interruptions.”
“Yeah,” I reply, letting my thumb rub soothing circles against her side. “But I was hoping we could manage five minutes without someone busting in.”
Her lips twitch into a smile, and she sets a hand against my chest. “Might be wishful thinking with this bunch.”
“Point taken,” I concede, leaning in just enough so our foreheads brush. Every inhale I take is tinted with her scent, and it goes straight to my head, making it hard to think about anything else.
For a second, neither of us speaks. The space between us is small and charged. I’m caught between wanting to pull her back into that kiss and checking if she’s okay—if she’s comfortable. But she’s looking at me, not pulling away, and my heart feels like it might beat right out of my chest.
I clear my throat, trying to sound casual. “So…where were we before Todd stomped in like a giant?” I say again.
A smile ghosts across her lips, a mix of teasing and genuine warmth. “I think you were about to distract me from your terrible jokes.”
I snort. “My jokes aren’t terrible. They’re just?—”
“Xayden,” she interrupts gently, “shut up and kiss me.”
Who am I to argue?
I slip a hand up, cupping her cheek, and close the distance. The second our lips meet, the world outside this plush nest drops away again. She leans into me with this quiet eagerness that makes my chest tighten in the best way. There’s no rush, no frantic edge—it’s unhurried, like we’re both relearning each other.
My pulse throbs in my ears, and I tilt my head, deepening the kiss just enough to feel that low, simmering ache that’s been winding around my thoughts since we reunited. She exhales against my mouth, and it’s all I can do not to push forward, to let my hands roam every inch of her. But I keep it together—barely.
She’s the one who breaks away, her breathing uneven as her gaze flicks to the doorway. “We should probably…you know,” she says, gesturing vaguely, her cheeks flushing.
I huff a soft laugh, nodding as I try to rein in the heat still coursing through my veins. “Yeah. If we stay in here any longer, we might not make it to the show tonight.”
She lets out a breathy chuckle, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. I take a second to absorb the sight of her—lips swollen, eyes bright, cheeks tinged with color. It’s a look I want to burn into my memory.
We untangle ourselves from the plush pile of cushions in the nest. My body protests the loss of contact, but I force myself to step back as we stand. She straightens her clothes, her eyes darting over me like she’s doing the same quick assessment.
“You okay?” I ask, my voice quiet in the hush of the room.
She gives me a small smile. “Yeah, more than okay.”
