“Want help?”
“Yes, please,” she says immediately. “Before I have to sleep standing up.”
I huff a laugh and step closer. The only light in the room spills in from the hallway behind me—low and soft, leaving most of the room in shadow. The tension between us is there the second I’m near her. I stop just behind her.
“Turn around,” I say quietly.
She hesitates for half a second, like she’s suddenly aware of how close we are, then slowly turns. And now she’s right in front of me.
“Okay,” I murmur, forcing my attention down to the laces. “How does this even work?”
“No idea. They crossed it, looped it, pulled it tight, and told me not to breathe.”
“Wow,” I mutter. “Helpful.”
Carefully, I reach up and gather her hair, moving it over one shoulder so it falls down her front, exposing the bare skin of her back. My fingers brush the back of her neck for just a second. The contact sends a slow heat spreading through my chest.
“Tell me if I’m doing it wrong,” I say quietly, my voice rougher now.
“I will absolutely scream if you do,” she whispers.
Holy shit.
I start loosening the laces slowly, focusing on the simple motion of it—fabric sliding, knots giving way. But every small movement she makes pulls my attention right back to her. And it’s seriously messing with my head.
She shifts slightly, then stills again.
“Sorry,” she murmurs. “I’ll stop moving.”
“It’s okay,” I breathe, because I can’t think of any other words that are sane.
I fumble a little more with the laces, now mostly loose and my hand settles at her waist, which makes her lean back. Her shoulder blades brush my chest.
Fucking hell.
A shiver runs down my spine. And the only thing my brain can focus on is the overwhelming urge to pull her closer.
Carefully, I slide one strap from her shoulder and let it fall down her arm. My head dips before I even realize I’m moving, and my lips brush the top of her shoulder.
She makes the quietest sound and that tiny breath slides straight under my skin, making me feel dizzy.
I feel all the blood in my body rush to a certain lower region in one quick motion. And I’m dying to get more reaction out of her like that, so I brush my mouth there again, slower this time. She tilts her head just slightly, like she’s giving me space instead of stopping me.
God, woman. You’re killing me.
My hand tightens gently as I pull her back a fraction until she’s fully against me. For a second the world narrows to nothing but warmth, breath, and the steady rhythm of her breathing against my chest.
I lower my mouth to the side of her neck, pressing another slow kiss there, and I feel goosebumps rise across her skin under my mouth.
“Mads,” I murmur quietly, my voice rougher than I expect. “Do you want me to stop?”
She inhales slowly. Then whispers, almost under her breath, “No.”
Fuck.
I close my eyes for half a second, pressing a gentle kiss just below her ear, trying—and failing—to keep my thoughts from what’s gonna happen if she turns around right now—
“MADS! MOVIE’S STARTING!”
