The kiss started soft and slow, but it didn't stay that wayfor long. He pressed in closer, tilting his head to deepen it and make my heart pound faster in my chest. His hand slid up to the side of my neck, his thumb brushing along my jaw in a way that made my skin tingle.
I didn't even think. I just moved.
I sat up a little more under him, chasing the kiss, hungry for the way he tasted. My arm found his waist to pull him in until our bodies pressed together. His breath hitched quietly against my mouth, and it only made me want him closer. The pressure of his body over mine, the weight, the heat – it was all I could feel. My hand slid up his back, while the other wrapped around his hips to keep him close.
After a moment, he pulled back only a little to hover over me with a smug look. His voice was low, breath warm against my lips. "That better?"
"Not quite," I whispered.
I caught his mouth again, harder this time. He made a quiet sound, half startled and half laugh, before giving in. His hand slid into my hair, and his fingers tangled tight as he kissed me back with more heat and intent. His hips rocked against me to make me groan into his mouth.
I curled my fingers at the small of his back, tugging him down into me –
The sharp scent of burning meat hit my nose.
My eyes snapped open. "Shit!"
I scrambled out from under him, nearly dumping poor Rowan off in the process. He yelped and caught himself against the arm of the sofa, blinking at me like I'd lost my mind. I darted to the stove, grabbing the spatula and desperately scraping at the sausages and tomatoes. But it was already too late.
A deep charred black greeted me from the pan. I exhaled sharply and scraped the ruined food straight into the bin.
Behind me, I could hear repressed laughter in Rowan'svoice. "You're a photographer, Eli. You literally work with timing for a living. How do you manage to burn things?"
I shot him a flat look. "My priorities were elsewhere, thank you." This time, I paid attention as I put fresh sausages and tomato slices in the pan. But even with my back to him, I could feel Rowan watching me with quiet amusement.
I focused on the food after that and kept my hands busy while my mind came back down to earth. The second round came out better. Sausages browned, tomatoes seared just right around the edges. Once everything else was done, I plated it all up and set the dishes on the table with a quiet clatter.
"Food's up," I called over my shoulder.
No answer. I paused to listen, then turned.
Rowan was curled up on the sofa with his back to me. He'd tucked one arm under his head, and the other draped loosely in front of him. He wasn't moving, so I thought he might've fallen asleep again. I crossed the room quietly and leaned down.
"Rowan?"
He didn't react.
It wasn't until I touched his arm, just a light nudge, that he blinked and flinched. He turned over and looked up at me with a hint of surprise and confusion.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you."
He lifted a hand to rub at his face. "No, it's... I'm fine. Just thinking."
"About what?"
His gaze went distant again, fixed on something past me. Or maybe not on anything at all.
I frowned slightly. "What is it, Ro?"
For a little while, he didn't move. He just stayed there as if debating whether to speak at all. Then, without a word, he got up and stepped over to his desk.
I watched with a kind of unease I didn't often feel. Heslid open the top drawer, pulled out a slim folder, and stared at it.
My gut tightened. Why was he suddenly so quiet?
He turned to come back to the sofa, dropping down on the edge of it without once looking up at me. The folder stayed in his lap as he said, "I need to tell you something... Before this goes any further."
The way he worded it did nothing for my nerves, so I stayed silent and just sat next to him and waited. He sighed heavily and finally handed the folder to me with a slight tremor in his fingers.
