I don’t move. Ican’tmove.
Her hazel eyes are wide—lips slightly open—like she’s caught between an apology and something more dangerous. Her breath, quick and shallow, fans against my lips. My grip on her hips tightens, not because I mean to but because my fingers are staging a fucking mutiny and have decidedwe’re staying right where we are, thanks.
God, she’s warm.
For a second—one long, excruciating second—I swear she’s looking at my mouth. And if she is… if there’s even achanceshe’s thinking about it—
Don’t do it. Don’t do it. Don’t do it.
I want to.
So bad.
One moment. One real taste of her. Toreallyknow how she feels pressed against my lips—not the fantasy that haunts my thoughts at two a.m.
“You okay?” I manage, my voice sounding as if I gargled gravel.
“Yeah,” she whispers. “My hero.”
“I always knew you’dfallfor me eventually.”
“A pun? Really?” She groans as she stands and brushes dirt off her legs. “That was terrible.”
“You’re smiling though.”
“I’m grimacing in pain.”
“Got any other graceful moves you’re itching to try?” I ask as I stand.
“Depends. How many times can you play human mattress?”
“For you? I’ll clear my schedule.”
Her eyes search mine, as if she’s trying to figure out if I mean it. Then— “Reece! You dropped the phone!”
“Oh shit…” I scramble for the selfie stick. “Sorry, squad. Cam tried to high-five a tree root with her face. Don’t worry, though. Your boy’s got reflexes.”
“I would’ve been fine.”
I shake my head no to the fans.
“I saw that!” She smacks my arm. “And let’s be real—you weren’t the hero here. It was your ass. That thing’s got perfect bounce and excellent shock absorption.”
“Are you objectifying my ass on livestream?”
The chat lights up:
OBJECTIFIED IN 4K: BOOTY HAD IT COMING.
REECE KISS HER ALREADY.
JUST MAKE OUT OMG.
“Okay fam—” I clear my throat, scrambling for a subject change before I make a catastrophically dumb move… like actually listen to the chat. “Q&A time! Let’s get to know the woman behind the camera, the star of my dreams, the sass master herself—Camila Morales.”
That earns me an eye roll. But she needs to get comfortable talking to the viewers, and she needsmeto push her.
I scan the questions. “Ooh, here we go. “What’s your favorite thing about Reece?”
