Page 57 of Fractured Faceoff

He was right, and that realization settled heavy in my chest. With a slow nod, I relented. “Okay. What do you need me to do?”

“You don’t have to do anything,” he assured me, pushing off the counter and stepping closer. “Let me do the work.”

As he turned back to the stove to boil the pasta and set a timer, my heart raced uncomfortably at what lay ahead. The air felt thick between us as I focused on his movements—how confident and deliberate he seemed.

“Now,” he said after stirring the pot for a moment, turning to face me again. “If I touch your shoulder…” He reached out gently and placed his hand on my shoulder.

A jolt of instinct shot through me, causing my muscles to tense under his touch.

“It’s all right, sugar,” he murmured softly. “I’m not here to threaten you.”

His voice wrapped around me like warmth on a chilly day.

I tried to relax but felt the weight of hispalm pressing into my shoulder—warmth radiated from where he touched me.

“See? Not so bad,” he encouraged softly.

With newfound resolve bubbling inside me, I let out a shaky breath as he moved his hand down along my arm, fingertips brushing lightly against my skin before resting just above my elbow.

“Just breathe,” he instructed gently as if sensing every ounce of tension still coiling within me.

His touch lingered there for what felt like an eternity before he slowly shifted back toward my shoulder again—this time more intentional—and pressed down slightly.

The warmth seeped deeper into me, dissolving some of that initial tightness in my muscles as I realized how easy it was to succumb to this strange sensation building between us.

“Now… here.” His hand traveled along the curve of my collarbone before coming back up again.

With each brush of his fingers against my skin—soft yet firm—I felt an unexpected sense of comfort wash over me as boundaries blurred between us like colors blending on an artist's canvas.

I stood frozen, my breath hitching as Jared leaned closer. His warm presence enveloped me, and the world faded into a blur of muted sounds.

“If I were mine,” he whispered, his voice low and husky, “I wouldn’t be able to stop touching you.”

A shiver ran down my spine at the intimacy of his words. I opened my mouth to respond, to push back against this reckless moment, but the words caught in my throat. The air between us crackled with unspoken tension, and I felt every heartbeat pounding in my ears.

He tilted his head slightly, closing the distance betweenus even more. His hand brushed against my cheek—his thumb tracing the line of my lips as if committing every detail to memory.

“I’m going to kiss you now,” he murmured, each word deliberate and laden with intent. “You know. For practice.”

I knew I should say no. Should remind him of our arrangement and the rules we’d set. But all that clarity evaporated in an instant, replaced by a yearning I hadn’t anticipated.

As he leaned forward, time stretched painfully slow—my heart raced like it might burst from my chest while anticipation coursed through me like wildfire.

His lips captured mine softly at first—gentle and tentative. A brush of warmth that ignited something deep inside me. This wasn’t like any kiss I had ever experienced before; it wasn’t hurried or desperate but rich with promise.

Jared took his time, exploring the contours of my mouth with a sweetness that made my knees feel weak. The kiss deepened slowly; each movement felt deliberate yet effortless as if we had been doing this forever.

His lips pressed against mine with a lingering softness that sent tremors throughout my body. It was unlike anything I had ever felt—a mix of tenderness and passion that unraveled every guard I’d built around myself.

I melted into him, forgetting all reason as his fingers slid into my hair, cradling me gently while his other hand lingered on my waist. It was intoxicating; I lost track of everything—the kitchen faded away until there was only him and the electric connection weaving through us.

This kiss wasn’t about practice; it was real—raw and vulnerable—and as he pulled back slightly to meet my gaze; I found myself craving more than just this fleetingmoment we shared.

If this was supposed to be fake, why the hell did that feel so damn real?

Chapter 16

Jared

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