Breaking the Grid

Secret

The sound of the shower turning off signaled Blair was almost done, and I sat on the edge of the bed, trying to distract myself with my phone. But when she stepped out of the bathroom, all thoughts of scrolling vanished.

Blair strode into the room with her usual confidence, a towel slung low around her waist, drops of water glistening on her tanned skin. Her damp hair was tousled, a few strands sticking to her forehead, and she used another towel to lazily rub at her neck and shoulders as she walked.

I couldn't help it—my eyes lingered, tracing the way the droplets of water slid down her toned abdomen. The soft lighting of the room made her skin almost glow, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

Blair noticed immediately, of course. She stopped in her tracks, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. "Do you like what you see?" she teased, her voice low and playful as she tilted her head, watching me with those sharp green eyes that always seemed to see right through me.

My cheeks heated, but I didn't look away. "Maybe a little," I admitted, my voice quieter than I intended.

She chuckled, the sound warm and deep, and crossed the room in a few easy strides. "Just a little?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as she stood in front of me, close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating off her damp skin.

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat as she leaned down, her fingers gently tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. Her touch was soft, lingering just enough to make my heart race.

Before I could process it, her lips were on mine—warm, soft, and unhurried. The kiss was teasing at first, playful and light, but when I kissed her back, Blair deepened it, her hand moving to cradle my cheek.

It was easy to get lost in her—the way she smelled faintly of soap and rain, the way her lips moved against mine, the way her presence seemed to envelop me completely.

"We mustn't get carried away again," I mumbled against her lips, though my hands betrayed me as they slid up to rest against her chest, tracing the edges of her muscles lightly. "We can't be late."

"I know," she whispered, her voice soft but heavy with desire. Her breath was warm against my skin as her lips trailed from the corner of my mouth to my jawline, her hand slipping down to rest on my waist.

My resolve wavered for a moment as she pressed closer, the heat of her body almost too much to resist. But I managed to place a hand on her stomach, pushing her back just enough to create space between us.

Blair immediately pouted, her expression so playfully dramatic it almost made me laugh. "You're killing me here, amore," she protested, her voice dipping into a low, teasing whine.

I bit back a smile, my hand still lightly resting on her stomach. "You'll survive," I said, raising an eyebrow at her. "We have plans, remember?"

Blair groaned, throwing her head back slightly as if the idea of not staying here was physically painful. "This is torture," she muttered, though the grin pulling at her lips gave her away.

"You'll thank me later," I said with a smirk, stepping around her and grabbing a shirt from the bed.

Blair watched me as I moved, her arms crossing over her chest as her grin widened. "Oh, will I?" she asked, her tone full of playful challenge.

I nodded, pulling the shirt over my head. "You will. Now hurry up and get dressed. We're leaving in thirty minutes, and I'm not letting you make us late."

Blair sighed dramatically but started moving toward the dresser. "Fine," she said, pulling out a clean pair of jeans. "But you owe me for this, Kyra."

"I owe you?" I shot back, raising an eyebrow at her.