Page 23 of Silent Damage

I pretend I’m filling up my water some more, but really, I’m watching his reflection.

Waiting to see if I imagined this or not—

His eyes slowly creep to me.

And the look on his face?

I know that look.

Jason’s not mad—he’s hungry. His tongue slides through the seam of his lips, and his legs widen on the sofa.

He’s watching me. Jason's watching me.

And when I say watching, I don’t mean the back of my head or anything like that.

His eyes are focused somewhere lower.

I set the glass down and lean over the counter, popping my hip to stick my ass out.

And when I do—

Jason bites his lower lip.

Well, well, well.

He told me to put some clothes on.

Twice.

A bit preoccupied with my state of undress, are we?

I whip around, and Jason shudders, knowing I caught him looking again, and quickly dons a scowl.

“What? Stop looking at me,” he shouts.

I turn away from him again and smile to myself.

There’s something there.

He’s doing everything he can to fight it, but he can’t hide the look in his eyes.

Jason

I whip out my phone and fix my gaze on a girl in the video yapping about god knows what on TikTok.

I don’t hear what she’s saying.

I don’t hear anything.

My chest heaves as I use all of the willpower I possess not to look at Gabe again.

The phone shakes in my hand.

I look again.

Damnit!

What the hell is he doing walking around like that?