Elowyn remains there, studying me.
Tempting me.
I have to be stronger. Can’t hug her when I’m like this.
“Seriously, what?” I demand, unable to push my obsessive thoughts aside.
She steps closer, somehow growing surer of herself. “Seriously rude.”
Elowyn doesn’t even tremble as she pushes a few dark strands of my hair off my forehead. I, on the other hand, have to suppress a groan of pleasure.
“Rude, huh?” I grit out between clenched teeth.
“Yes.” She nods. “I asked you a question, and you’re ignoring me.”
Ignoring her.
Ignoring. Her.
Like that could ever happen.
Especially now that she’s near. With the ghost of her fingers on my hair.
Nothing else exists but this girl.
Me, I’m only alive because I’m talking to Elowyn.
The longer I stand in the hall with her, the thinner my restraint stretches. It’s as tight as a wire about to snap.
And that’s a problem.
“Elowyn…”
She doesn’t listen, reaching for one of the sand streaks on my T-shirt. Her fingertips hover, her eyes flickering back to my face. Worried. Compassionate.
Mine.
Once the word is planted in my head, there’s no taking it back.
No controlling my urges.
I curl a hand around one of her wrists. With the other, I grip her chin, and Jesus, she’s so smooth. Warm. Trembling too.
“Are you okay?” She’s blinking furiously now. Red creeps up her throat as I lean in until I level my face with hers. “Do you, um, need help?”
“Yes, little moon.” Our noses almost touch. Her breath is hot on my mouth. “I do need help.”
“Oh.” Her cheeks flush brighter at the nickname I call her when it’s just the two of us. Just me and those gray eyes that never fail to shine through my shitty existence. “Is there something I can do?”
“Actually, there is. See, I thought I’d gotten what I wanted tonight.” Leaning in, I bury my fingers in her chin, loving how she gasps for me. “I was wrong. Something’s still missing. One thing I can’t have.”
“What’s that?”
We’re so close that her soft lips brush mine when she talks. Her fingers press to my jaw, the light touch short-circuiting my brain.
That’s probably why I don’t think. Don’t even care that Barclay is down the hall. Don’t give a fuck that I’m a murderer.
My instincts take over. I tilt my head, slide my hand to her throat, and crush my mouth to hers.
