“You don’t look at me like everyone else does,” he murmurs.
“How do they look at you?” I whisper back.
“Like I’m something to take.”
My throat tightens.
“Well, I’m not trying to take anything from anyone.”
His gaze drops to my lips.
Mine flicks to his.
The space between us narrows.
I can feel his breath now.
Warm.
Close.
This is it.
This is the moment in every book where the kiss happens.
The one that changes everything.
His hand slides to my waist.
Gentle.
Testing.
I lean in.
Just a fraction.
And then, he freezes.
Something shifts in his expression.
Not desire.
That’s real. I can still see it right there in his dark eyes.
But there’s something else.
Something heavier.
He inhales sharply and steps back.
Like the movement physically costs him something.
“David?” I breathe.
He drags a hand through his hair, jaw tight now.
“This isn’t—” He exhales. “You don’t need this.”