Steps of Desire

s like she was running a five-star hotel instead of supervising my chaos. I hauled a suitcase that felt like it weighed my ent

king as she strode through the hallway, hair flawl

ed, though my voice

ust be

ther. Tall, broad, impossibly perfect. "Uh... yeah," I s

about you," he s

r bad?"

eyebrow. "Mos

the tension. "Ryan, help Ella with

hovering, judging, and making me

ifted it but it slipped through my fingers. Clothes and random

d, scrambling to

ed for the same sweater. My stomach flipp

"Wouldn't want you

ndle it,"

, confident, and in control made me feel exposed and frustrated all at once.

," I mu

asked, smirking

e look like a comp

id casually, and

ll from one of the boxes; it was Mom's handwriting, neat as ever:

what he seems?" I m

g else, don't let him get under your skin. I rolled my eyes. Sophie always exaggerated, but someho

he doorway. "You're hiding in

ned against the doorframe crossing his arms with a sharp eye

at made me stiffen. "Seems like a

d to say yes and the other part of m

hated how it felt but somehow....., I liked it. The heat of him being so close made me shiver, my heart was racin

e chuckled. " Let me ge

," I snapped, though part of m

manding, but I didn't hear it. I was too aware of

me minutes, a soft knock made me jump. No one usually

look in his eyes made my stomach twist. He smiled faintl

sat there gripping the box, realizing one thing with terrifying

forbidden mess of feelings