Page 43 of It Was Always You

Noah quickly gripped my arm to steady me, and my skin burned where he touched me.

"You okay?" he asked, concern etched in his eyes.

I nodded, unable to speak. This was not the right time for my body to have a reaction like that to him. Me helping Noah out as a friend was one thing. But me having romantic notions for the boy staying in my room was another.

I brushed the hair out of my eyes. "I'm fine. But no air mattress."

He nodded, seeming to take in my closet. It was probably barely just long enough for him to sleep in.

"You sure there's not enough room on that full-sized bed of yours?" He raised an eyebrow.

I shook my head. "Oh no. Definitely not."

He nodded. "Okay, I'll take what I can get."

He spread out a few blankets on the floor to give himself some padding.

I just stood there dumbly as he did it. I didn't realize I'd been standing so closely until he stood again. I tripped on his backpack and lost my balance—I was turning into that freaking Bella Swan girl!

I tried to right my balance, hoping he wouldn't notice how clumsy I was becoming around him, but he grabbed my arm again.

"Sorry my backpack was in the way," he said.

Noah stepped closer but didn't let go of his hold on me. He ducked his head down until he was looking directly into my eyes. I swallowed. Wow, his eyes were kind of mesmerizing.

"Thank you for letting me stay here tonight." He spoke in a low voice that was way too intimate for this confined space.

I nodded and tried to find my tongue. "I-I'm glad I could help. I didn't want you to freeze."

His hand went from holding me upright to gently rubbing my arm. I wondered if he knew he was even doing it. Electricity raced all over my skin, like his touch was lightning and my body wanted to absorb the full charge. Did he have any idea what his soft touch and alluring eyes were doing to me?

He looked at his hand, and then finally seemed to realize what he was doing and removed it.

But then his gaze flickered to my lips. My heart, which was already beating faster than I ever thought it could go, started thrumming like a hummingbird's wings.

His lips parted.

He was going to kiss me.

But then he spoke instead.

"You have something on your glasses."

"My glasses?" My voice squeaked, and I didn't know if I was relieved or disappointed that he had not been looking at my lips.

I pulled my glasses off and wiped them with the corner of my shirt before replacing them.

"Did I get it?"

He nodded. "Yes." Helooked thoughtful for a moment before he said, "I can see your eyes much better now."

I drew in another breath, trying to fill my lungs with the oxygen I would need to get my brain working right again.

"Thanks." I adjusted my glasses again. I really needed to stop this nervous tic of mine. It was making it totally obvious how much he was affecting me. "Well, uh, I'm going to bed now."

"Me too." He stepped to the side, so I could escape from the too-small closet.

A few long, heart-pounding minutes later, I was in my bed and he was five feet away in my closet.

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