“Definitely nerd.”
“Must you argue every point?”
I tossed the wet towel over my shoulder. “Have you met me?”
My smile dropped as he stepped in close, reaching for a curly strand of my copper hair again, only he didn’t close the distance. I took a step away, begging my heart to remain calm. To make sure he knew we were on the same page. This was reckless and...
He stepped forward, eyes locked on mine.
“Every day I wish I hadn’t... and every damn day I’m worse for it.”
Oh, fuck.
His hand was still hovering near my hair. Too close. “You’re dripping water on the floor, little red witch.”
I swallowed. Barely. “Observant.”
“It’soneof my better qualities.”
“Along with being a Nexus nerd?” I asked, though it was far softer than I’d meant it to be.
“Among other things.” His fingers finally made contact, sliding down one damp curl with achingly slow precision. Testing. Gentle in a way I’d never associated with the Ripper.
But that was because of my own trauma. Maybe he had a soft side. Everyone did somewhere. If you dug deep enough. I’d just accidentally unearthed his. My breath still snagged. His eyes fell to my parted lips, darkening slightly.
“Syn—”
“D-don’t.”
What was I saying?
Don’t stop?
Don’t start?
Don’t make me feel things I couldn’t afford with only twenty-two days left and everything falling apart!
But somehow he edged closer. Close enough, I could see the faint scar along his jaw. Close enough to see the way his hair curled when it fell from the leather cord holding it back. Close enough to feel the warmth radiating off him despite the cool corridor.
“Tell me to leave,” he muttered, voice rough.
“I should.”
“Say it like you mean it, and I will.”
His hand moved from my hair to cup my jaw, thumb brushing across my cheekbone with the kind of reverence that made the fire in my soul stir. I clamped down on it, forcing back the flames.
I needed to put a stop to this, or I was going to combust.
A distant tug at my core confirmed I wasn’t the only one concerned about my control. The reminder made me pull back,but Wickett’s other hand found my waist, steadying me. Or steadying himself, I couldn’t tell which.
“This is a terrible idea,” I whispered, ignoring another insistent tug from my bond with Silas.
“The worst.” But he leaned forward anyway, his forehead nearly touching mine. “We’re bound by a blood oath. You’re hunting someone who you thought was a friend. My father would kill us both if he knew?—”
“Then maybe we shouldn’t?—”
“Maybe.” His thumb traced my bottom lip, and I forgot how to breathe. “But I’ve spent thirty-four years doing what I should. And right now, standing here with you, I don’t fucking care aboutshould.”
