Fate

(Short story)

"This kiss just sealed the deal. You're mine and only mine now, Grace." His voice is low and rough like gravel and laced with something primal.

I stop breathing.

The air thickens, electric, heavy like the sky before a storm breaks.

Everything stills, but the static between us crackles like it's seconds from combusting.

His breath fans across my lips-close, so close-but still not touching.

My heart slams against my ribs, erratic and loud, like it's trying to break free from my chest.

Then his hand finds my jaw. His palm is rough, warm, grounding-but the look in his eyes?

That's a wildfire.

Just heat and hunger and something darker.

"I..." The word is a whisper, barely there, shaky and useless. I can't finish it.

His nose brushes mine in the softest graze, but there's nothing innocent about the way he's looking at me.

Like he's seconds away from tearing me apart.

Like he's been starving for this.

"Say something" he murmurs, voice thick, his eyes flicking to my mouth.

My lips part, not to speak, but because I need to breathe, to taste the tension curling like smoke around us.

His thumb drags across my lower lip, slow and deliberate.

My knees damn near buckle.

I grab the front of his shirt, clutching it in both fists like he's the only thing tethering me to the ground.

He leans in closer.

And then his lips brush mine. Barely.

A whisper of a kiss, soft enough to make me shiver.

Then he kisses me again.