Page 26 of Unmarked Magic

Our connection didn’t waver, and, when his gaze dropped to my mouth, warmth flared inside me again, much to my annoyance. How did he look at me and make my insides melt?

His eyes suddenly darkened, and I saw it in that moment. Lust.

Holy crap. He felt it too.

The kick of desire returned in full force, and my heart slammed in my chest like he was my first teenage crush. But I’d known him for five years and didn’t understand: after all this time, why now? Yeah, I’d been attracted to him for years. But had never wanted him like this. It was unnerving.

I felt the pull toward him, but didn’t move, uncertainty freezing me in place. My eyes lowered to where his lips had parted slightly, and when he moistened them with his tongue, my breath caught in my chest. I swallowed deeply, drawing my gaze to his once more.

His arm reached for me. Then didn’t.

Suddenly, he turned back to the fire. “Red, we can’t,” he rasped.

Turn friendship into something more.

The meaning behind his words ripped open a piece of me I’d not known existed, and embarrassment flooded my bloodstream. I was sure, even in the dim light, my cheeks turned a deep shade of pink.

“It’s not you,” he started, fisting his hair. His focus remained on the fire, like it was his life source.

I was sure I’d not misjudged him, because the look he’d given me was one of pure hunger only moments ago. I’d felt it in my bones, and my body had responded accordingly. But maybe, somehow, I’d been wrong. “I get it,” I lied, feigning disinterest.

How could I have been so stupid?

Suddenly, he rose to his feet and stared down at me. He awkwardly adjusted the waistband on his boxers before running his hand over the nape of his neck. “I won’t leave you to sleep alone in the dark.” His weary eyes blinked slowly. “The fire should burn until morning.”

I swallowed over the lump of embarrassment in my throat, nodding. Gods, could this evening have gone any worse?

Pulling out the couch, he converted it into a makeshift bed, collecting a comforter and draping it over the top. “I’ll sleep on the floor,” he said when he was done.

Wait, was he serious? The floor was hard, and he had bones.

“This is ridiculous,” I mumbled, pouting at him. “I’ll be fine down here. Like you said, the fire will burn all night.”

He stood, contemplating my words. It didn’t seem that hard of a decision to make, but, the longer he stood there, the more awkward I felt. I didn’t need him down here with me. In fact, I needed as much space between us as humanly possible right now after his rejections. Plural. First the bar, now this.

Finally accepting I didn’t need him to stay, he stoked the fire one last time. “Ok. But if you need me…”

“I won’t.”

Something dimmed in his eyes at my tone.

Just leave already.

Holding my gaze for a moment longer than necessary, he finally spoke. “Okay. Sleep well, then.”

When the padding of his feet faded, I let out a long breath, letting my head fall into my hands. Gods, could this night have been any more embarrassing?

Slumping onto the couch, I pulled up the covers, watching as shadows flickered throughout the living room. The night had been an epic failure, and I couldn’t help but wonder how Reid had gone from eye-fucking me in the bar to rejecting me again by an open fire. In all honesty, the entire scenario left me reeling.

I closed my eyes, willing my body to go to sleep, but it just wouldn’t come. Thoughts of the night circled my mind. The way he had cared enough to cover me with a blanket, the way he had looked at me like he wanted to kiss me.

Remembering how his lips felt on mine sent my insides melting. I slid my hand into my pajama bottoms, slamming my eyes shut like a fool. Because I realized that a single moment of his lips was not enough. I wanted more.

Reid

I’d counted every crack in the ceiling that needed re-plastering and listed every guitar brand I could name. But nothing would stop me from thinking of Red. I fisted my hair, still staring at the ceiling after nearly having broken my own gods-damned rule. I’d nearly kissed her, and that thought scared the fuck out of me.

Shifting my attention to the crack in the curtains, I watched as snow fell heavily outside, purposely pushing away thoughts of maybe being housebound tomorrow. Hopefully the roads would be clear by mid-morning, as I needed to desperately put some distance between us. I had to get her out of my head. She was my friend and couldn’t be anything more. Even when my dick begged to differ.