Jade blinked, grounding herself again.She pulled her hands back quickly, the loss of contact sudden and strange.
“Thanks,” she said, sliding off the bike.
Wolf nodded once.Jade reached for the helmet, but before she could take it off, he was already there.Wolf moved his hands to the strap, unfastening it with the same quiet precision.Jade stood still and let him.The helmet lifted away, cool air brushing her skin.
“You good?”he asked.
Jade nodded.“Yeah.”
She turned toward the building and stopped.Wolf had gotten off the bike.
“What are you doing?”she asked.
“Walking you in.”
“You don’t have to do that,” she said.
“I know.”
Jade frowned slightly but didn’t argue for some reason.They walked in silence to the front steps.The building loomed, quiet and familiar and suddenly different.Jade turned to him.Confusion twisted in her chest.She hadn’t expected this from Wolf.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Wolf said.
“Fine.Thank you, for the ride.”
Jade didn’t let herself think too hard about it.She didn’t know what possessed her.Maybe it was the adrenaline still humming in her veins, or the way he was looking at her now, with undeniable interest.Before she could overthink it, Jade stepped forward and kissed him.
It was quick and impulsive.Wolf stilled.
For a fraction of a second, his eyes widened slightly.Then he cupped her cheek, his touch big, warm, full of old calluses.Then he kissed her back, taking his time, as if he wanted to fully taste her.A shiver of anticipation crawled down her spine.
Jade’s breath caught as Wolf deepened the kiss.Heat bloomed low in her chest, spreading outward.Wolf brushed his thumb lightly along her cheek, grounding and undoing her all at once.
The world narrowed again.Jade leaned into it before she could stop herself, curling her fingers lightly into his jacket as the kiss lingered, stretched, turned into something neither of them had planned.
When they finally pulled back, her pulse was racing.Her breath uneven.Wolf’s gaze held hers, darker now.There was almost a hunger that both terrified and electrified her.
Jade swallowed, feeling a little unsure and unsteady. This wasn’t part of the deal, and this wasn’t supposed to happen.And yet, a part of her didn’t regret her actions.She had kissed him first, that didn’t escape her.
Neither of them spoke.Then Jade stepped back.
“I...”she started, then stopped.Jade found herself at a loss for words.
Wolf just looked at her for one long second, then nodded once.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he repeated.
Jade nodded.She turned before she could do something else reckless.
