Tyranny of Distance

Dane

He got her to stop without revealing himself—she stood in the doorway while he stood alongside her, behind the wall. No one would be able to see him from outside the room, and Lila would see anyone coming long before they got close since she was standing in the doorway.

He'd only meant to stop her from walking away mad. He wanted to soothe her. To make it right. But this close, he could smell her perfume—something slightly fruity, with a hint of spice—it made him want to lick her. When she said, "Go on," and leaned against the door, so close—mere inches from him—he almost groaned with the desire to pull her into his arms.

"It's…difficult, pretending to be unaffected by you," he said, his voice gravel because of the lust building in him.

"I'm aware," she said. She'd pulled out her phone so it looked like she was busy with that. Clever girl.