But I would've crawled back beside her in a heartbeat. I would’ve stayed. If she’d asked. If she’d looked at me just one more second.
I’d have given her everything.
The sound of her laughter echoed down the hallway. And I stood in the kitchen, frozen like an idiot, still holding the damn glass, while that sound just… ripped me open.
God, I was in trouble.
This wasn’t a crush. This wasn’t a fling. This wasn’t even amistake.This was a car crash I saw coming in slow motion and never once thought to hit the brakes. Because I didn’twantto. I wantedher.
Her giggle turned into a hum. Something tuneless, quiet. She was still laying there, probably.
Was she thinking about me? About my skin on hers? About the minuscule distance between our mouths? Ourbodies?
My body betrayed me. Heat pooled low, sharp and unbearable.I groaned under my breath, pressing the heel of my hand against the ache straining my boxers. Just for a second. Just to relieve the pressure before I lost my goddamn mind —
Of course she walked in then.
Ofcourseher eyes went immediately to my hand as I cupped myself through my underwear.
“Need some help?”
I froze. Slowly —so slowly— I turned to face her.
She was there. Leaning against the doorframe, hair mussed from sleep, my hoodie swallowing her to mid-thigh. Bare legs. Bare feet. Her smile small, crooked,devastating.
“Juniper—” My voice was wrecked.
“That wasn’t a no,” she teased softly, though her eyes were shining — hesitant, but curious.
I dragged a hand down my face, half laughing, half groaning. “Jesus Christ.”
“You’re the one who said you’d make me beg for it,” she said, that grin widening just a fraction.
Oh, I was dead.
Buried.
“Go back to bed,” I rasped.
“That’s still not a no.”
My jaw clenched. I couldn’t even look at her. If I looked at her, if I let myself meet her eyes — I’d lose.
“You don’t get it.” My voice came out low, rough, desperate.
“Then explain it to me.”
I finally looked up. She was still there. Watching me likeshe wanted me to.
“Because if I start — ifwestart —” I stepped in close enough to cage her against the doorframe, close enough for her to feel the heat radiating off me, “I’m not stopping halfway.”
She swallowed hard, chin tilting up, eyes blown wide. “Whosays I want you to stop?” I shut my eyes. Groaned low in my throat. And stepped back.
“I’m not touching you,” I said, voice hoarse. “Not like that. Not until you’re sure. Until you want me to.”
Her breath hitched.
I couldn’t stay there another second. If I did, I’d ruin both of us. So I brushed past her, retreating down the hall.
