“Figured if you were hiding candy in your room, you had a sweet tooth and might want it.”
“More like keeping it from my son’s sweet tooth.” I held the bar between my palms and turned to face him. “I’d never get any chocolate if I didn’t stash away a little for myself.”
A handsome wolfish grin I hadn’t expected chocolate to produce cut across his lips. He even walked a step forward, eliminating the distance he’d placed between us moments ago. “I have to hide my stash from Reed. I get it.”
“You should do that more often.” I lowered my arm to my side.
“What’s that, exactly? Share my chocolate?”
“Smile.” I sighed. “A girl could get used to chocolate and smug smiles.”
He lifted his chin, making atsknoise. “I don’t dosmug. I domysteriousandcharming.”
I couldn’t believe it, but I laughed. Some of the tension even evaporated. I could feel the edges of everything else, all the worry and fear, slipping farther and farther away.
There was an earnest depth to his tone that matched his eyes. “You know,” he began, his smile fading and a seriousness slipping back to his face, “you scared me today. Being out on that deck when we were shot at ...”
“I can’t imagine anything scaring you,” I murmured honestly.
“That’s just an act.Una ilusión. The man behind the curtain is a mess.” The roughness in his voice shattered what was left of the wall between us that’d been fighting for its life.
“You’renota mess.”
His eyes met mine as he came closer, and the room became smaller. Quieter. Only the howling winds outside.
He brought his fist beneath my chin. “All roads lead to disaster when it comes to me.” His forehead tightened, and my breath hitched at his anguished tone. “You need to remember that. The last thing in the world I want to do is hurt you. And yet, knowing that, I can’t seem to—”
“Keep away?” I gulped. “I don’t want to hurt you, either, because I’m a mess, too.” I leaned forward, our bodies nearly brushing up against each other. “I don’t know what this is. But there’s something between us, isn’t there? And I don’t think it’s dangerous.”
“It’s there.” He narrowed his eyes, like he was worried that if he blinked, I’d disappear on him. Become one of his father’s magic tricks. Vanish before his eyes and never be seen again.
Thing was, I felt exactly the same.
Had the same fear.
Gosh, we were a pair.
“I should go.” He pulled his fist away but didn’t move his body. “Good night.” Then he did something I hadn’t anticipated. Slanted his head, drawing his lips to my cheek for a kiss.
When he straightened, I couldn’t help but do the same. A whisper ofgood nightfrom my lips, followed by a kiss to his cheek. Only when I started to pull away, I let my lips wander toward his mouth.
We remained there for a few seconds.
Just breathing.
Our lips close but not touching.
And then he brought his mouth to my other cheek and repeated his goodbye. Copied me as well after, drawing his lips toward mine.
His breath caught, and mine disappeared entirely.
Then he did it.
He kissed me.
Tilted his head and brought his hand to the back of my neck and lit me on fire.
“Dios mío.” His words vibrated against my lips as the candy bar fell from my hand.
