My heart jolted as his face got closer to mine. Even though my body was begging for me to kiss him, my rational mind was louder.


    I jumped up from the couch. “I’m going to get more water,” I said and grabbed both of the empty sses, and ran into the kitchen.


    When I opened the fridge, I didn’t immediately grab the water pitcher. I just used the cool air flowing out so that I could clear my head.


    But just when my heart slowed down and I allowed my eyes to flutter close, I felt a warm presence behind me that was sucking all the cold air out of the room.


    Alexander.


    His body pressed against me, and I had to grab onto the shelf of the fridge so I wouldn’t do something embarrassing like faint because of the heating off of his body. Slowly, he tucked my hair behind my ear. I couldn’t help the small gasp that escaped my lips. I froze when I felt his mouth right against my ear.


    “Do you need any help, Oli?”


    I bit my lip. There was that nickname again. Why did it make me putty in his hands? His woodsy scent enveloped me like a warm embrace. I couldn’t think straight. Half of me wanted to lean against his muscr body, and the other half wanted to make an excuse and step out of his warmth.


    I wasn’t sure which part of myself to listen to.


    Because the fridge had been open too long, it started to beep to remind


    .1027100


    me to close it. But Alexander and I stood still, waiting to see what the other would do. The longer that his body was pressed against mine, the deeper I blushed, and the more my heart raced.


    Alexander gently stroked the tip of his finger down my checks. Making me gasp loudly. The contrast of the cool air sting on my hot face and his warm body pressed against mine was too much for me to handle.


    “Are you alright?” he whispered into my ear. I could tell that he was trying his best not tough.


    His question made my resolve break. I whipped my head around, hooked my arm around his neck, pulled him flush against my body, and sank my teeth into his neck. I even managed to close the fridge door.


    My bite wasn’t meant to be yful or sexy.


    It was a warning.


    After I was done, I didn’t even run my tongue over the spot to lessen the sting of my bite.


    When I pulled away from him, I put my finger in his face. “Restrain yourself,” I warned and narrowed my eyes at him.


    Then, I grabbed his hand and pulled him out of my kitchen.


    There was a bemused grin on his face, and he rubbed his neck as he let me pull him along.


    “Jokes on you,” he murmured. “Because I liked that bite.’


    “1


    My stomach jolted, but I ignored the part of my body that was begging me to wrap my arms around him again.


    “…I need to go to the bathroom,” I said and dropped his hand


    Then. I rushed out of the room before he could say anything more


    When I got back into the bathroom, my eyes widened when I realized that I hadn’t shut off the shower all the way. The room was full of hot steam, and the mirror waspletely fogged up. Quickly. I shut it off and cracked open the door to get all the steam out of the room I took my time and washed my face. My time with Alexander had left my skin raw. It was like all of my nerve endings were exposed.


    When I was ready to face him again, I went my chin held high and my shoulders back.


    ck into the room with


    But I discovered that the apartment was empty. On an orange sticky note was a message written in Alexander’s handwriting


    ‘I’ll see you tomorrow, Oli. Thanks for the bite.


    Alexander.’


    ***


    Later that night-after I had switched myundry to the dryer and took a shower-I was tossing and turning in bed. I was half asleep,


    imagining that Alexander was in bed with me, kissing me, touching me, pressing his warm body against mine.


    But I would always wake up to a cold, empty bed.