12

I’d kept my hands off of her while she was eating the gyro and fries.

But I didn’t want to wait any longer.

Once she swallowed the mouthful, I said, “Alix …”

I needed her eyes on me to see the way she would look at me, how she would respond to the sound of my voice.

That would determine if I could reach for her right now or if I’d have to wait.

Her stare slowly lifted and landed on mine.

Shyness was peeking through her expression.

Still, every sign was there—the desire in her glare, the increased breathing, the way her tongue was swiping across her lips. It wasn’t frosting she was licking off because there wasn’t any there.

I dropped the small box of cake on the ground.

She didn’t watch it fall, but when she heard the sound, I saw the hunger in her grow.

I took a step.

She did, too, in the opposite direction at the same time she dropped her cake.

She said nothing as I continued to move toward her, backing her up to the side of the building until her body was pressed against it.

As I s