She looked up at him then, eyes shining with something that wasn’t fear.Before he could think better of it, before he could step back or say something that would put space between them, she rose onto her toes and kissed him.
It was soft at first, hesitant.A brush of lips that felt like a question.His body answered before his brain caught up.He groaned low in his chest and kissed her back, cupping her jaw with one hand.He used his thumb to brush her cheek like he was memorizing the shape of her.
Her lips parted under his, warm and yielding.Reaper deepened the kiss, heat coiling fast and tight in his gut.She made a small sound that went straight through him, and he pulled her closer without thinking.Elena fisted her hands in his shirt like she was anchoring herself to him.
It was messy and real and nothing like the empty hookups he’d burned through in the past.There was just need, gratitude, and something electric that scared the hell out of him.
He broke the kiss abruptly, breath ragged, resting his forehead against hers.
“Fuck,” he muttered.
Her eyes were dark, lips swollen, breath unsteady.She looked as wrecked as he felt.He stepped back, forcing space between them.Every instinct screamed to close it again.He ignored them all.
“We shouldn’t have done that,” Reaper told her.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly.
“No,” he said.Too fast.“Don’t be.That’s on me.”
He dragged a hand through his hair, frustration and want tangling ugly in his chest.Now that he’d tasted her, felt her respond, the restraint felt like trying to cage a wildfire.
“I can’t,” he said hoarsely.“Not like this.You’re not ...this isn’t some bar bathroom or backseat bullshit.”
Her cheeks flushed, but she nodded.“I know.”
“You’re scared,” he continued.“You’ve been through hell tonight.I don’t take advantage of that.”
Her gaze softened, something like respect flickering there.
“Even if I wanted it?”Elena asked him boldly.
He clenched his jaw until it ached.“Even then,” he said.
A beat passed.Then she nodded again, slower this time.“Okay.”
He stepped back toward the door, forcing himself to move.
“Get some rest,” he said.“We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
“Reaper?”
He paused, hand on the knob.
“Good night,” she said.
“Good night, Elena,” he replied.
He closed the door before he could change his mind.The walk to his room felt longer than it ever had.He stripped and showered, scrubbing at skin that still tingled where she’d touched him.
The water went cold before he noticed.When he finally collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling, sleep stayed far away.All he could see was her mouth and he couldn’t help but imagine the weight of her body leaning into his, trusting him.Fuck it, Reaper had a feeling he wasn’t going to get much sleep tonight.
