Page 26 of Light My Fire Three Times
I’m too close.
My heart pounds in my chest. He’s not looking at me the way he was before, the teasing distance gone.
He’sclose. So close, I can feel the heat radiating off him, smell the familiar hint of soap and his cologne, and I swear I’m losing the ability to form coherent thoughts.
“I need a minute,” I say again, shaking slightly as I try to take a step back. “I can’t?—”
But he’s already stepped forward, his hand brushing mine in the quiet hallway. I don’t pull away. He doesn’t either. For asecond, all the noise in my head fades away, and all I can hear is the rapid beating of my heart.
“I don’t think you need a minute, Livvy,” he murmurs like a warning. We’re both teetering on the edge of something.
I swallow hard, and everything in me screamsdon’t do this. But my body doesn’t listen. Neither does my heart.
Before I know it, Jesse’s leaning down, his hand cupping my jaw, his thumb grazing my lower lip in that soft, pointed way that makes my breath hitch.
“I’ve wanted this all night long,” he whispers, barely audible, like he’s admitting a secret. “I know I shouldn’t, but I do.”
My mind is screaming at me to pull back, but all I can do is tilt my head slightly, closing the space between us.
It’s reckless, it’s insane, and it’s everything I’ve been trying to avoid. But as his lips meet mine, slow, searching, and then suddenly all-consuming, it’s like I’ve forgotten how to breathe.
His hand slides around the back of my neck, tugging me closer, and I let him. I let him take over in the way only Jesse can. Confident, unrelenting, but so incredibly careful. The world outside the two of us vanishes.
It feels like we’re both lost in this. Like time has stopped, and it’s just the two of us, here, right now. But then, just as quickly as it started, I hear the unmistakable sound of footsteps, and someone calls out.
“Liv?” It’s Timothy. Luckily, I can hear him, but I haven't seen him yet. “You need anything?”
I jerk back like I’ve been burned, eyes wide, my heart hammering in my chest. Jesse steps away just as quickly, but the tension between us is intense, and it’s like the hallway is closing in on me.
“I’m fine,” I say, way too breathless, praying that Timothy doesn’t notice how flushed my cheeks are.
How my lips are still tingling from the kiss.
Timothy’s voice is calm, but there’s a hint of concern. “Just making sure you’re alright. The bathroom lock has been malfunctioning frequently recently, and I haven’t had a chance to fix it yet. Much to Ivy’s chagrin…”
“I’m good,” I repeat, feeling like I’m drowning in this. “Just… needed a minute…”
But I should leave.
Yeah, I need to go before things spiral more out of control with Jesse. It’s just too much, being around him…
Ring, ring…
Ring, ring…
Ring, ring…
Oh shit.
My phone.
I glance at the screen, and my heart sinks when I see the name.Richard Stokes.The last person I want to hear from right now.
I roll my eyes, frustrated. The one time I want to be left alone, he’s determined to ruin it.
I almost ignore it, but the thought of dealing with him tomorrow makes my insides churn.
I never make him wait.
