Her fingers find my shirt again, twisting in the fabric like she’s grounding herself.Like she’s groundingus.However, it sparks my body, causing blood to rush everywhere all at once.
I shift, pressing in, swallowing the little sigh she exhales against my mouth.Her lips are soft, warm, and she tastes like the drinks from earlier, like something I could get drunk on.
She doesn’t pull away.
Doesn’tstop me.
And that?That’s what kills me the most.
Because I think shewantsthis just as much as I do.
When she finally does break away, her forehead stays close, brushing against mine.She exhales, something soft, something real.
“What the hell is this?”she whispers.
I don’t have an answer for that.
I only know what itfeelslike.
Like something I’m not willing to lose again.
So I tell her the only thing I know to be true.“It’s us.”
She pulls back just enough to look at me, tilting her head.“That’s not an answer, Price.”
I smirk.“Sure it is.”
She rolls her eyes but doesn’t move away or tell me to fuck off.
And that?That’s the biggest win of my fucking life.
She leans back against the booth, her body still angled toward me, like she’s not willing to put more distance between us.I keep my arm stretched along the back of the seat, not touching, not pushing, justbeing here with her.
Honestly, I don’t feel like I have to push for something more.
Because she’shere.
And she’snot running.And I can work with that.
Anna lets out a slow breath, studying me again, her gaze softer now, still searching.“You brought me up here to talk?”
I huff out a small laugh.“You sound surprised.”
“I am.”The most adorable half-smile graces her lips and I think I might have just died until she says, “I thought this was your sneaky way of getting me alone.”
I grin.“I don’tneedto be sneaky, Ace.When I want you alone, you’ll be begging me for it.”
Her cheeks flush, but she covers it well, rolling her eyes again as she looks away, shaking her head.
“I mean, we might have to work up to sword-crossing, but I could be convinced to try anything once,” I tease, loving the color that blooms across her cheeks.It’s my new favorite pastime.
“Jesus Christ,” she mutters, pressing her palms over her face.
It’s easy between us now.
It shouldn’t be.
After everything, after years of distance and fights and denying this thing between us—it shouldn’t bethis easy.