Page 12 of Those Eyes, That Mouth

I picked up the blue pencil and leaned closer. "Turn your head. Left."

I traced a delicate vein along his temple, smudging it thin toward his brow. Then down the side of his neck, following where a real vein would be. My face was inches from his throat. He had goosebumps even though the room was stuffy.

I drew another vein along his cheekbone. He shifted slightly, and his knee briefly grazed my crotch.

Neither of us said anything.

I set the pencil down and opened the eyeshadow compact, loading the applicator with charcoal. "Keep them closed."

I swiped the color into the crease, then switched to my fingertip directly on the paper-thin warmth of his eyelid to blend it. His lips parted. His breathing went shallow.

My free hand had drifted to the curve of his neck to steady myself.

I picked up the liquid liner. "Okay, this part's tricky. Look up, but keep your eyes open. And don't blink."

There was a faint ragged gold ring at the center of his hazel eyes, with tiny flecks of amber at the edge. I could count his lashes.

His eye started to water. A single tear escaped toward his temple.

"Shit, sorry⁠—"

"It's okay." His voice was quiet. Rough. "Keep going."

I wiped the tear away with my thumb before it could ruin the powder. My hand slid to the back of his neck, fingertips in the wet hair at his nape. He made a small sound—not quite a word.

I finished his lower lash lines. Then gave them a slight smudge for that undead look.

His foot shifted on the floor, his toes grazing mine.

I didn't move.

My heart was hammering. I was so hard it actually ached.

I uncapped the lipstick—a dark wine-red I’d borrowed from Alex. The last touch.

"Open your mouth a little," I said. “Let your lips go slack.”

He parted them. His breath ghosted across my face, warm and minty.

I held his chin between my thumb and forefinger. My hands were shaking—I hoped he didn't notice. I dragged the color across the bottom, then the top.

His tongue darted out to wet his lips and caught the edge of my thumb.

My whole body went hot.

Without needing to be told, he pressed his lips together, spreading the color. His eyes were on my mouth.

I had this sudden urge to bite the crease in his lower lip. Maybe it was all the vampire talk.

I took his face in both hands—the way I would if I were going to kiss him. I was checking my work. Taking in the whole picture. But then I let myself actually see his eyes, and he was watching me right back.

It was just… way too much.

I pulled away. “Check it out.”

He turned, and I watched him see himself.

Silence. Then a grin spread across his face. "Holy shit."