“Please.” His thumb smooths across my shoulder and I know I should absolutely leave.
Being here like this is reckless.
“Fine. But I’m leaving as soon as the credits roll.”
CHAPTER 14
BENNETT
Tori stays.
I’m shocked. Luckily, it’s dark and she’s staring at the movie like it’s her job, giving me the chance to read her. The TV flickers light across her face, high cheekbones glowing. She’s still taking these tiny breaths, her chest barely moving up and down.
There’s a chase scene and she flinches, bumping into me.
The touch is accidental at first. But she doesn’t pull away, so I let my thumb stroke her shoulder. Lightly, like a toe drag.
I’d never say it out loud, but she stopped my spiral tonight.
Maybe she stayed for her dad.
Maybe she didn’t.
She settles in, her body sinking into the sofa inch by inch. Another bad guy goes down and we’re at the final fight scene. My hand brushes her bare skin. She’s soft and warm, and I’m zero percent interested in the movie.
The familiar theme song plays and nerves ping-pong around my gut.
I don’t make a move for the remote and neither does she. The credits roll, both of us motionless on the sofa. The ‘Play Next’ timer counts down.
My thumb could stop it.
But it doesn’t.
The nextMission Impossiblemovie starts, but I’m not watching it. All my attention’s on Tori — the flutter of her pulse in her neck, her hands resting on the outside of her thigh, our fingers almost touching.
“The credits rolled. I should go.” Her voice is a whisper.
I don’t want her to leave.
“You don’t have to.”
She glances over her shoulder, fixing her gaze on mine.
“You need sleep.”
“I’m good.”
Her fingers flutter to her neck, toying with the delicate gold chain resting there. My mind instantly snaps to her in my bed, wearing only that shiny necklace and nothing else.
A phone buzzes on the coffee table, lighting up the dark room. We both ignore the vibration, staring at each other. I ease in closer to her, lowering my feet to the floor, our knees inches apart. Blood roars in my ears, drowning out the movie.
I’m locked in on Tori.
Her quick breaths, the pink flush on her cheeks, her full lips parted slightly.
Tempting me, drawing me in.
I pause. She doesn’t move away.
