"But?"
"But it's complicated. I'm complicated."
"Life is complicated." He doesn't move toward me. Doesn't reach for me. Just stands there, patient, waiting for me to decide. "I've accepted that."
I step closer, tilting my face up to his. "Yes."
"Yes what?"
"Yes, I want to kiss you again."
His hand lifts to my face, thumb tracing my cheekbone with surprising gentleness. "So what's stopping you?"
Nothing. Nothing at all.
I rise onto my toes, pressing my lips to his. Unlike our first kiss in the lake, there's no hesitation now. His mouth moves against mine with purpose, with heat, with a hunger that matches my own. His hand slides into my hair, cradling the back of my head as he deepens the kiss.
I press closer, wanting to feel more of him, to lose myself in the solid security of his body. His arm wraps around my waist, drawing me against him until there's no space left between us.
The kiss turns deeper, hungrier. His tongue meets mine, exploring, tasting, claiming. I make a small sound in the back of my throat that seems to break something loose in him. In one fluid motion, he lifts me, turns us, and presses me gently against the wall beside the heater.
With my back to the wall and his body pinning me in place, I should feel trapped. Instead, I feel safe. Protected. Free to let go of the control I cling to so desperately.
My phone buzzes against my hip, vibrating insistently. I ignore it, lost in the feeling of Cameron's mouth on mine, his hands gripping my waist. It buzzes again. And again.
"You should check that," he murmurs against my lips, though he doesn't pull away.
I fumble for my phone, not wanting to break contact. Three missed calls from Gray. Two texts:
Emergency team meeting. Now.
Something's happened. Get to the house immediately.
"Shit." I show Cameron the screen. "Gray's calling an emergency meeting."
His expression sharpens instantly, the predator in him surfacing. "That's not good."
"No, it's not." I check the time. "It's almost ten PM. What kind of emergency—"
My phone rings again. Gray's name on the display.
I answer immediately. "What's wrong?"
"Where are you?" His voice is tight, controlled in the way it gets when he's barely holding back panic.
"Off campus. With Cameron. What's happened?"
"Someone got into your dorm room. Your RA called me because I'm listed as your emergency contact for the team." The words hit like ice water. "Reese, they went through your things. Left another note."
My knees go weak. Cameron's arm tightens around me, supporting me as the implications crash over me.
"How bad?" I manage.
"They rifled through your desk, your closet. Nothing's damaged, but they were clearly looking for something. And there's a note on your pillow."
"What does it say?"
A pause. Then: "Last warning. Stay away from Riverside or everyone finds out what you really are."
