After midnight

I knew I shouldn't have answered his text after midnight, but I did anyway.

When I stepped outside, Jax was already there, leaning against his car, watching me like he'd been waiting all night. His eyes dropped to my lips and stayed there.

"You came," he said.

"I didn't plan to," I replied, stopping in front of him.

He reached out and hooked a finger into my hoodie, pulling me closer. "You always do."

My heart was pounding. There was no space between us now. I could feel the heat of him, smell his cologne, feel the way his attention was fully on me.

"You shouldn't look at me like that," I said.

"Like what?"

"Like you're about to ruin me."

His hand slid to my waist. Slow. Intentional. "You say that like you don't want it."

I didn't answer. I didn't have to.

He kissed me. Not soft. Not rushed. Just firm and sure, like he already knew I would melt into him. My hands grabbed his shirt without thinking, pulling him closer as his other hand pressed against my lower back.

When he pulled away, his forehead rested against mine. His voice was low. "I've been thinking about this all day."

"Then why'd you wait," I whispered.

He smiled and kissed me again, deeper this time, like he was done holding back. The world felt smaller. Quieter. Like it was just us and the tension finally snapping.

He opened the car door and looked at me. "Get in."

I hesitated for half a second, then nodded.

Because whatever this was, I wasn't running from it anymore.