LINGERING MOMENTS

His gaze dipped slightly—to my lips, just for a fraction of a second. It was quick, barely noticeable, but I saw it... and I felt it.

A slow inhale filled my lungs, but it didn't steady me. If anything, it made the moment stretch... Made the tension feel more tangible.

Then, from the living room, the clock struck midnight.

The sound was sharp, cutting through the thick silence between us.

A beat later, distant fireworks crackled through the air—muted, but unmistakable.

Mark let out a breath, his mouth twitching into a lopsided smirk. "Guess we managed to escape the midnight kiss tradition."

His words were teasing and light, but the joke landed differently when we were already standing this close.

It was too easy.

Too tempting.

I forced a breathy chuckle, my hands still resting against his chest, my fingers flexing slightly. I needed to move.