Page 29 of Boards & Betrayal

He stopped wiping and looked at me, his expression softening. "I get that," he said quietly. "More than you know."

For a moment, we just stood there, rags in hand, surrounded by the faint hum of the bar's closing activities. Simon was busy counting the till at the other end of the room, oblivious to our conversation.

"So," Thomas finally said, breaking the silence, but not the intensity of our shared gaze. "You gonna let me walk you to your car?"

I hesitated for a split second before nodding. "Sure," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "Why not?"

We finished wiping down the bar in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. The simple act of cleaning felt almost ritualistic, like we were both scrubbing away more than just dirt and grime.

When we were done, I tossed my rag into a bin and turned to face Thomas. He was watching me with an expression I couldn't quite read—part curiosity, part something deeper.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Yeah," I replied, grabbing my jacket from behind the counter.

As we walked towards the door, I felt a strange sense of anticipation mingling with my usual guardedness. Maybe tonight wasn't about forgetting after all. Maybe it was about something else entirely—something unexpected and new.

But for now, it was just a walk to my car with a man who made me feel seen in a way I hadn't felt in a long time.

And that was enough.

Simon shot me a knowing look as he flipped the lights off one by one. The bar felt suddenly intimate in the dim glow of the remaining bulbs.

"Guess that's our cue," Thomas said, standing up and offering his hand.

I hesitated for just a moment before taking it, feeling an unexpected thrill at the touch of his warm skin against mine. This night had been full of surprises—good ones—and I wasn’t quite ready for it to end.

Stepping outside, I immediately felt the cold sting of raindrops pelting against my skin. "Oh my gosh, it's pouring!" I shrieked, laughter bubbling up despite myself.

Thomas grinned and grabbed my hand, pulling me towards the parking lot.

We sprinted through the downpour, my laughter mingling with the sound of rain hammering the pavement. By the time we reached my car, we were both drenched, water streaming from our hair and clothes.

I turned to look at him, and for a moment, I was struck by his presence. He stood there like some dark, brooding hero straight out of a comic book. His wet hair clung to his forehead, and his intense eyes seemed to burn even in the dim light. His jawline was sharp, his lips set in a determined line. There was something about him that reminded me of someone from the Golden Age of Hollywood—charismatic yet intimidating.

He was staring at me with an intensity that made my breath catch. The laughter died in my throat as his eyes bore into mine, stripping away any pretense or walls I had built around myself.

Before I could react or even think, he leaned forward and kissed me. The rain continued to pour down on us, but in that moment, everything else faded away. His lips were firm yetgentle against mine, and for a heartbeat or two, the world stopped spinning.

I melted into the kiss, feeling the warmth of his body despite the cold rain soaking us both. It was unexpected but somehow inevitable—a culmination of all the unspoken words and stolen glances.

When he finally pulled back, we were both breathing heavily. The intensity in his eyes hadn't diminished; if anything, it had deepened. And I found myself wanting more—more than just this kiss in the rain.

More… with him.

I felt the words catch in my throat, a jumble of confusion and desire. "I... I don't…" I murmured, my voice barely audible over the pounding rain.

"Yeah," Thomas said gruffly, his breath warm against my cheek.

"But I want..." The admission slipped out before I could stop it.

In an instant, his lips were on mine again, more urgent this time. The kiss was searing, and all the coldness from the rain evaporated in the heat between us. My back slammed against the car, the impact jarring but grounding me in the moment. His hands gripped my waist with a possessiveness that made my heart race.

His body pressed into mine, solid and unyielding. I felt every muscle, every contour of his frame against me, and it was like being enveloped by a force of nature. His mouth moved hungrily against mine, and I responded with equal fervor, my hands threading through his wet hair.

The rain continued to pour down on us, but it was a distant sensation now. All that mattered was the fire igniting between us, burning away the lingering shadows of our pasts. Hisfingers dug into my hips as if he needed to anchor himself to me, and I arched into him, craving more of that connection.

Our breaths mingled, ragged and desperate, as the kiss deepened. I could taste the rain on his lips mixed with something uniquely him—something that made me dizzy with longing. His hands roamed over my body with an urgency that matched my own need.

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