Savannah didn't sleep.
How could she, after that?
The taste of him still lingered on her lips --- a kiss that had burned like gasoline. And yet, he'd pulled away again. Like he was afraid of what he wanted. Or worse... afraid of her.
By morning, the storm had passed.
But the tension hadn't.
She found him in the kitchen, shirt back on, hands braced against the counter like he'd been standing there for hours.
He didn't look up when she entered.
"I kissed you," she said, no hesitation.
"I remember."
"You kissed me back."
That got his attention. His head turned slowly, jaw clenched, eyes hard. "I shouldn't have."
"But you did."
Jace stepped away from the counter, walking past her - like distance was the only defense he had left. "Your brother would kill me."
She spun to face him. "So this is about Noah?"
"This is about everything."
"Bullshit," she snapped. "This is about you pretending I'm still the same girl you used to pull out of treehouses and tease at dinner. But I'm not. I've grown up, Jace. I know what I want."
He turned, eyes flashing. "You think I don't see that? You think I haven't been fighting this every single day since the night you looked at me like you meant it?"
Savannah's breath caught. She hadn't expected him to admit it.
"I have tried," he growled, stepping closer, "every damn way I know to keep my hands off you. Because if I touch you again, I'm not going to stop at just one kiss."
Her heart pounded.
"Then don't," she whispered.
That was it.
That broke him.
He closed the space between them in a heartbeat - one hand gripping her waist, the other tangled in her hair as he slammed his mouth onto hers. This wasn't careful. This wasn't controlled.
This was years of tension snapping like a live wire.
His body pressed hers against the wall, lips trailing heat down her throat, breath ragged against her skin.
"You have no idea," he rasped, "what you do to me."
She arched into him, fingers digging into his shoulders. "Show me."
His hand slid up her side, under her shirt, touch rough and reverent all at once.
And then - just as suddenly - he pulled away.
Not far. Just enough to press his forehead to hers.
Eyes closed. Breathing hard.
"I want you so bad it hurts," he admitted. "But if I take that step… I won't be able to pretend it didn't happen. And neither will you."
Savannah's throat tightened.
"Good," she said. "I'm done pretending."
But Jace just kissed her once more - soft this time, a promise and a warning - and then he whispered:
"Not like this. Not yet."
And then he was gone again.
Leaving her heart racing. Skin flushed. And knowing now, without a doubt -
He wanted her just as badly as she wanted him.