Page 62 of The Ache That Stayed

Her gaze snapped back to me. Then it dropped to my mouth. She licked her lips slowly. The small movement sent a sharp jolt through me.

Bedda Matri.

My restraint pulled tight like a wire. I leaned down without thinking. For one dangerous second, everything slowed. And suddenly the space between us disappeared.

For a second I forgot why we were even here. Forgot the men chasing us. Forgot the SUV. All I could see was her.

Firelight flickered behind us. Her breath warmed my jaw, fingers gripping my shirt like it was the only thing keeping her upright. The heat of her body against mine.

I had spent all this time pretending I didn’t want this.

Pretending I could exist in the same space as her and not lose my mind.

But standing like this—

Pressed against her—

I realised how badly I’d been lying to myself.

I dipped my head an inch closer. Her lips were close. So close. I could smell her strawberry lip gloss and minty breath.

One taste. Just one taste.

The monster whispered.

She cleared her throat abruptly. “They’re gone.”

I blinked once. The moment shattered, reality snapping back.

Pity.

I stepped away immediately, forcing air back into my lungs, running a hand through my hair.

“Good.”

I grabbed the helmets and handed hers to her. We climbed back onto the bike. This time when she wrapped her arms around my waist it felt… different. As though she too was thinking about the moment.

The engine roared back to life and we pulled out of the underpass and back onto the road. A minute passed in silence. Then her voice crackled through the comm.

“You almost killed us.”

I snorted. “And you screamed in my ear. I’m not complaining.”

“I did not!”

“You absolutely did.”

“Santino!”

I laughed. “See? Just like that.”

“That was because you nearly turned us into roadkill riding like a madman.”

“Since when have you become a rule follower?”

“Since I didn’t want death hanging over my head.” She snapped back.

“Relax,” I said. “We’re alive.”