The house was dark and quiet, the only sound the faint creak of the floorboards under our feet as I pressed Aeri against the wall. Her back was flush against the cool plaster, her wrists pinned gently above her head by my hands.
Our bodies were close—too close—her warmth radiating against me, her lavender scent filling the air. The dim light from a nearby window cast soft shadows across her face, highlighting the flush on her cheeks and the way her eyes sparkled with a mix of surprise and something deeper.
"Ezra…?" Aeri whispered, her voice soft and breathy, her gaze locked on mine. Her chest rose and fell quickly, her breath warm against my lips as I leaned in closer, our faces just inches apart.
"Aeri…" I murmured back, my voice low, almost a growl, as I closed the gap until our breaths mingled, hot and unsteady. My heart was pounding, every nerve on edge from being this close to her.
"Yes…?" she whispered, her eyes searching mine, her lips parted slightly, waiting.
