⋅•⋅⊰∙∘⭒❊✿❊⭒∘∙⊱⋅•
I cleared my throat, the scratchy sound too loud in the stillness of his room, but no words came out.
"Okay," I barely whispered, turning toward the door while my hand instinctively reached for the handle. I had to get out—get away before the tension between us pulled me under again, before my body's desires convinced my mind to betray itself.
Because, oh God, I wanted him to stop me.
I wanted him to close the distance between us, spin me around, and kiss me like he had before...wild and carefree, as if nothing else mattered beyond those walls. I wanted to forget Ethan's gentle smile, my mom's trusting eyes, and every single rule that told me this was wrong. The longing felt sinful, heavy, and intoxicating, curling low in my stomach and making my fingers shake against the cold doorknob.
But I couldn't give in. Not with so much at stake...Ethan's heart, our parents' happiness, the fragile peace we'd all been pretending to uphold.
