r hours, only that the air between us had shifted since the moment our eyes locked earlier. He leaned against the desk, sleeves rolled, collar undone, watching me with that

y, almost like an observation rather tha

gging at his lips. "Restless is dang

oom felt too small, his presence too consuming. When I reached for my bag, his hand brushed

ed back. Instead, I looked up. His eyes held mine, dark and unflinching, as th

lvet-wrapped steel. His hand was still over mine, thumb

lips parted, bu

ar, smoke, something darker wrapped around me

he let out a breath, rough, controlled, "y

aid something anything but all I managed was a wh

or a moment, it felt inevitable his lips hovering a breat

and of hair from my face, his fingers ghosti

han we realize," he said, pulling

it, my chest rising and falling too quickly. He turned away, bracing himself ag

he same after this. We had crossed a line quietly, dangerously and neither of us could prete

ght of them pinned me in place. "Be careful what

ready knew the truth: the door was wide