Page 10 of One Weekend in Vienna

God, she’s killing me. I run a hand through my hair, letting out a rough laugh. “You know, you’ve got this way of saying my name that makes it sound like both a compliment and a warning. I know where I stand with you, Anna.” I take a deep breath. “But I want you anyway.”

She frowns, her fingers now fidgeting with the ends of her hair. “I’m just trying to figure out?—”

“Whatyouwant?” I finish for her, taking another step that brings me close enough to feel the warmth radiating off her skin. Close enough to catch the faint scent of her shampoo, something that smells like summer and contradicts the storm clouds in her eyes.

She gives a hesitant little jerk of her head, the tiniest nod ever and the vulnerability I see there, in the most composed woman I’ve ever met, nearly undoes me.

“Come on, Anna” I say, my voice a hoarse whisper. “You don’t have to keep fighting it.”

She swallows and I can see the rapid flutter of her pulse at her collarbone. “Fighting what?”

“Whatever this is.” I gesture between us. Our eyes lock and the air practically crackles with tension.

“This is nothing.” Anna’s voice is barely a whisper, but she doesn’t move.

“Feels like something.” Her fair skin can’t hide the blush that spreads across her cheeks. “Feels like you’re just as curious as I am.”

“Curious?” Anna scoffs, but it’s a weak attempt and I can’t help but notice she still hasn’t moved. Hasn’t pushed past me or turned her back or told me to get out of her space.

“Yeah,” I say, taking the last step towards her. “Curious about what it would feel like to stop pretending you don’t want this. To stop pretending you don’t wantme.”

My hand lifts, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. Her breath hitches, and my heart stutters, letting my fingers drop to her jaw in the lightest of touches.

This is it.

This is where she decides.

This is where my future is decided.

“Anna,” I say, my voice softer than I mean it to be. “If you don’t want this, just tell me. Say the word, and I’ll back off. No hard feelings.”

She doesn’t say anything. Instead, her gaze drops to my mouth, just for a second, but long enough to make my heart trip over itself. I still don’t dare to hope until her hand comes up to my chest, but instead of pushing me away she closes the space between our bodies and tilts her chin up.

That’s all the permission I need.

I spread my hand over her jaw and pause, giving her one last chance to pull away. She doesn’t. Her breath comes in short, shallow bursts, and her eyes are wide, flickering with uncertainty and something else. Something that makes hope bloom in my chest.

When my lips meet hers, it’s tentative at first—a question, not an answer. Anna hesitates, one heartbeat, two, and I give her enough space to pull away. But then she sighs against my mouth, her hands finding their way around my neck, and the world tilts on its axis.

I deepen the kiss, my other hand sliding to her waist, pulling her closer, her breasts against my chest and she melts into me,leaning closer, her fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt like she’s holding on for dear life.

I’m undone. Completely and utterly.

Her lips are plush and warm, her touch demanding, and I don’t know if it’s the storm outside or the one raging in my chest, but I feel like I’ve just won the biggest prize I could ever aspire to.

When we finally break apart, she’s staring up at me, her cheeks flushed, her breathing uneven. I can feel my heart hammering in my chest, and I don’t care if she hears it. I don’t ever want to wear a mask around her ever again.

“Still unsure?” I ask, my voice hoarse, the teasing edge gone.

She doesn’t answer. But the way she presses her forehead to mine, her hands still clutching my shirt, tells me everything I need to know.

And for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

6

ANNA

My heart hammers unsteadily and I’m afraid if I let go of Max’s shirt, I’ll melt to the floor in a puddle of need.

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