“Who’s that?” I ask, keeping my tone light, brushing a kiss along the top of her head.
“Carolyn,” she says quickly.
Not a lie.A half-truth.I let the silence stretch, feeling the steady beat of her heart against me.
Her fingers don’t move as quickly anymore.
She’s baiting me.
I knew it the moment she shifted, pulling just enough from my grasp to grab the water glass on the table. Her body stays pressed to mine, but there’s distance—small, but perceptible.
She wants to see how far I’ll let her pull away.
I tip her chin up with the edge of my finger, forcing her to look at me. Her lips part slightly, soft, questioning.
I don’t answer whatever thought lingers there. Instead, I kiss her.
Slow and deep, tasting the sweetness of her mouth. Olivia exhales softly, melting into me, and I feel the tension bleed from her body as she grips the front of my shirt.
My hand slides to the back of her neck, fingers threading through her hair as I pull her closer. Her lips part easily under mine, and I don’t hesitate—my tongue slipping into her mouth, coaxing her to meet me. She responds with a soft, sweet lick, her arms winding around my neck as she presses up against me.
I tilt her head further, kissing her deeper until I feel her soften beneath me. I savor the way she opens for me, the soft drag of her tongue against mine sending a slow burn through my veins. My other hand traces the curve of her waist, fingers grazing the sliver of skin beneath her sweater. She shivers at the contact, but doesn’t pull away—if anything, she presses closer, her breath hitching softly between kisses.
Shewantsthis. No matter how far she tries to push, she always comes back when I give her reason to.
Her teeth graze my bottom lip, tentative but teasing, and I answer by taking the kiss slower, licking into her mouth. I feel her chest rise against mine, her nails gently scratching the back of my neck as we sink further into each other, the rest of the world fading away.
By the time I pull away, she’s breathless, her phone forgotten on the armrest. I brush a strand of hair from her cheek, admiring the flush in her skin.
Let her play. Let her think she can run circles around me.
She’ll learn soon enough—I don’t chase. Icollect.
The campus bustleswith noise and movement, but my world narrows to the sound of Olivia’s voice as we exit the lecture hall together. She brushes her hair behind her ear, her steps purposeful, her presence magnetic. I walk beside her, content to remain in her orbit for as long as she allows.
“I need to grab a couple of things in the city,” she announces, her tone neutral but practiced. It sets me on edge, even as I smile.
“Let me come with you,” I offer, my words casual, my intent anything but. “I can help.”
She glances up at me, her green eyes warm but guarded, the faintest flicker of something unreadable passing through them. “Thank you, but it’s fine,” she replies. “I could use the alone time.”
Alone time.My jaw tightens, though I keep my expression soft. I shift, recalibrating. “At least let me drive you,” I counter smoothly, tilting my head, feigning nonchalance.
Her lips twitch, a ghost of a smile, but her gaze lingers a beat too long. I can see what she’s doing—what she’s been doing the past couple of days—leaving breadcrumbs and seeing if I will follow.
She’s watching for my reaction, daring me to falter. Instead, I lean down and press a kiss to her forehead, lingering just long enough to feel her exhale.
“Be safe, baby,” I murmur, pulling away. “Text me. I’ll come get you whenever you need.”
She nods, stepping back, and with that, she’s gone.But not really.I wait long after she turns the corner, then pull out my phone.
Her location pops up instantly, the small dot tracing her path across the city. Mayfair Book Shop.I frown. She hasn’t mentioned it before.
What is she doing there?My fingers hover over my phone, the urge to text her overwhelming. I resist, though the restraint burns.
The hours drag, each one stretching longer than the last. I try to distract myself—emails, work, even scrolling through meaningless updates on my phone—but nothing holds my attention. My thoughts circle back to Olivia, to the bookshop, to the time ticking by without explanation.
Finally, I give in.
