LAURA
Josh drew back from the kiss, his lips lingering just above mine as though he was still contemplating whether to connect them once more. His blue eyes locked onto mine, intense and probing, and for a brief moment, silence enveloped us. My heart raced in my chest, pounding so vigorously that I was sure he could hear it.
“What the hell was that?” I managed to whisper, my voice shaky and breathless.
He ran a hand through his hair, gripping the back of his neck as he let out a low, frustrated groan. “I don’t know,” he said, his voice rough, almost angry. But then his eyes found mine again, softening. “All I know is that every time I see you, I have this… this urge.”
“An urge?” I repeated, my brows furrowing.
“Yeah,” he said, almost snapping, but then he sighed, the tension in his shoulders deflating, “It’s like this need. Like I’m dying of thirst, and you’re the only thing that can quench it. T look at you, and all I want to do is…” His voice trailed off as he gestured between us, his meaning clear.
I blinked, unsure what to say, unsure if there was anything to say. My lips still tingled from the kiss, my skin burning where his hands had been. I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, teetering between pulling him back to me or running away.
Josh let out a sharp exhale and shook his head, almost as if trying to clear his thoughts. “Forget it,” he mumbled, shifting in his seat as he reached for the gearstick. Without another word, he put the car back into gear and pulled onto the road, leaving me sitting there, stunned and silent.
The rest of the drive was unbearable.
The silence between us wasn’t just awkward–it was charged, thick with tension that neither of us dared to break. My mind raced, replaying the kiss over and over again, analyzing every second, every movement, every flicker of emotion in his eyes.
By the time we pulled into his driveway, my nerves were shot.
Josh parked the car, and I unbuckled my seatbelt in a daze. I barely met his eyes as I got out, muttering quickly, “Thanks for the ride,” before heading toward the house.
When I stepped inside, the foyer was dark and quiet, with the only sound being the soft click of my shoes against the floor. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Jess was supposed to be here, but she was off with Bryan, leaving me alone in this massive house with Josh.
I had barely stepped toward the staircase when I felt him behind me.
His presence was unmistakable warm, overwhelming, and so close that it sent a shiver down my spine.
Before I could turn around, his hands grazed over my arms, featherlight at first, then more deliberate as they slid upward. His palms moved to my shoulders, and he brushed my hair aside, exposing the curve of my neck.
“Josh,” I whispered, but my voice was weak, lacking conviction.
He leaned in, his breath warm against my skin. My head tilted to the side on its own, my body betraying me, and my eyelids fluttered closed.
What the hell was he doing?
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