𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭

forty two

Delphine

The world spun in a soft, muted blur as Kaiden led me upstairs. My head was light, but my heart felt grounded, anchored to the electric pull between us. I wasn't sure how or when we'd drifted from the noise of the party to the quiet of his dorm. But the air was different here—less crowded, charged with a tension that I couldn't ignore.

Kaiden's hand was steady on my arm as he guided me inside, his touch firm but careful. The light was dim, casting shadows on his face that only deepened the intensity of his gaze. My breath caught, and for a moment, I was sure he could hear the fast, uneven beat of my heart.

"So," he murmured, a half-smile playing on his lips as he shut the door behind us, "you're actually letting loose tonight?"

I shrugged, my own grin slipping out. "Maybe," I said, unable to keep the edge of laughter from my voice. "Is that so surprising?"

He raised an eyebrow, leaning back against the wall with his hands casually tucked into his pockets. "You just don't seem like the type. But I guess people have their surprises."

His eyes lingered on me, tracing the lines of my dress, and I felt a spark under his gaze. I wanted to say something—anything to fill the silence—but words felt heavy on my tongue. I took a step forward instead, each inch closing the gap between us and making my pulse race faster.

"Why are you staring?" I asked softly, feeling the warmth spread up my cheeks.

Kaiden didn't move, didn't flinch. His gaze was steady, like he was figuring something out. "Because," he said quietly, "I keep thinking there's something more to you. Something I haven't figured out yet."

My heart skipped at his words, a dizzy thrill rushing through me. Being seen in that way, like there was something beyond just skating, something worth uncovering, struck deeper than I wanted to admit. Kaiden wasn't just looking at me; he was seeing me, in a way that made me feel both exposed and understood.

I took another step closer, feeling my hand brush against his arm. "Maybe you're not supposed to figure me out," I murmured, my voice barely louder than a whisper. But even as I said it, I knew it wasn't true. I wanted him to see every piece of me, wanted to be known and wanted, even if just for tonight.

Kaiden's eyes softened, and I caught the glint of something vulnerable in them. He raised his hand, reaching toward me slowly, giving me the chance to pull back. But I didn't. His fingers brushed my jaw, light as air, then lingered, his thumb grazing the corner of my mouth in a way that made my breath hitch.

"You don't make it easy," he whispered, the words catching between us. His voice was low, his gaze intense, and it was like he was waiting—waiting for me to close that last, impossible distance between us.

Before I knew it, I'd leaned in, drawn by a force that felt unstoppable. Our faces were so close now, I could feel his breath on my skin, warm and inviting. His hand slid to the back of my neck, anchoring me as his lips finally brushed mine, soft and searching.

It was like stepping onto the ice for the first time—a moment where time slowed, everything sharp and breathtaking. I kissed him back, the taste of warmth and closeness flooding over me, making me forget everything but him.

When we pulled apart, I opened my eyes to find him staring back at me, his gaze holding a question, an unspoken ask. But I didn't need him to say it. I answered by leaning in again, this time with more certainty, feeling his hands steady against my back, grounding me as we fell into the moment together.

One thing led to another, his touch growing bolder, my fingers tangled in his hair, and before I knew it, we'd crossed an invisible line. The night stretched on, filled with whispers and laughter, each of us drawn to the other like magnets.