Page 61 of Fame & Rhythm

Charged.

My gaze drifts, unintentionally, to his lips, and I wet mine without thinking. Suddenly, I’m very aware of how close we are.

He swallows, his chest rising with a quick inhale. “Annie… I like you.”

The words hit me like a shockwave, and I blink, trying to process, my heart kicking hard against my ribs.

“Say something,” he adds, almost desperate.

“You… do?” I breathe. A slow, almost disbelieving smile pulls at my lips as warmth spreads through me.

Maybe… this is what I’ve been feeling too.

He nods, lifting his hand to my face. His palm cups my cheek, his thumb brushing lightly across my skin. The touch is gentle, but it sends a rush of heat through me. My eyes close for a second as I lean into it, and when I open them again, he’s smiling, and it steals the air right out of my lungs.

We shift closer.

Slowly.

Carefully.

My heart is pounding so hard I can feel it everywhere.

His gaze flicks between my eyes and my mouth, like he’s trying to figure out if this is really happening.

I lean in first.

Just enough.

Letting him know I want this too.

Everything else fades away.

The confusion, the fear, the tension from earlier, all of it disappears until there’s nothing left but him.

His hand slides to the back of my head, fingers threading gently into my hair as he draws me closer.

I close my eyes as his nose brushes mine, his breath warm against my lips.

And then…

He kisses me.

Soft and careful, like he’s afraid I might pull away.

But I don’t.

I lean into him, pressing closer, letting myself feel it. The warmth, the spark, the way everything inside me seems to light up all at once. I part my lips slightly, unsure, following instinct more than anything else.

He deepens the kiss, slow and tentative, and something inside me melts. My hand lifts to his cheek, fingertips brushing along the roughness of his jaw as I hold onto him.

It feels… right.

More right than anything has ever felt.

The kiss deepens, growing more certain, more confident. His hands move to frame my face, holding me to him as if he doesn’t want to let go. I slide one hand into his hair, gripping lightly, needing him closer—every second pulls me further under.

His body shifts nearer, his chest brushing mine as our breathing turns uneven. Heat builds low in my stomach, unfamiliar but impossible to ignore. He leans into me, and I follow, letting myself fall back onto the mattress. He comes with me, bracing himself above me, but still close… so close.