Chapter 242
Chapter 242:
His words painted her ears red, the flush crawling down her neck.
Panic fluttered in her chest as she tried to retreat, but his hold only firmed.
“Austin!” she hissed, tilting her chin to glare—only to crash into the dark intensity of his gaze.
Those eyes mirrored her startled expression, yet held a raw, unguarded hunger that threatened to swallow her whole. Steam curled around them, turning each breath into something heated, something far too intimate.
Austin’s eyes lingered on the pink flush creeping across her cheeks. His Adam’s apple bobbed with a quiet swallow as the tension in his grip eased. Instead of letting go, he guided her gently, urging her a step deeper into the steamy bathroom. The soft click of the door closing behind them sealed the space, the hush intensifying the charged air.
Mist curled around them, clinging to skin and hair, as his gaze darkened—hot, unguarded, carrying a storm of emotion that threatened to spill over.
“Brinley.” His breath brushed her face, his voice husky as his nose barely grazed hers. “Look at me p>
Brinley’s pulse thundered in her ears, yet she tilted her chin up, meeting his gaze with hesitant courage.
In those dark eyes, she caught a glimpse of her own flushed face.
Austin’s low laugh rumbled softly as he bent toward her, brushing a tender kiss across her forehead.
His lips wandered lower—grazing her brow, lingering over the bridge of her nose—until they hovered just above hers.
𝗗𝘰w𝘯𝘭o𝗮d 𝘗𝘋𝖥𝘴 frе𝗲 𝗼𝘯
Instead of claiming her mouth at once, he traced the shape of her lips with a feather-light touch, his restraint making the moment almost unbearably intimate.
Brinley’s breath hitched as their warm exhales tangled in the narrow space between them.
Heat poured off his body, seeping through her skin, every muscle in his arms coiled and unyielding.
Whether she had risen onto her toes first, or he had finally surrendered to his desires, was impossible to know—but in the next instant, his mouth found hers, the kiss igniting into a fierce, consuming blaze that refused to let go.
Austin’s kiss claimed her, prying her lips apart until his tongue tangled with hers.
His grip on her wrist was unyielding, his other arm cinching her waist as though he meant to draw her straight into his chest. Brinley’s thoughts scattered; all she could do was melt against him, letting the world fall away.
Sensing her faltering resistance, he deepened the kiss. The faint sweetness of her scent mingled with the rising steam, turning the air heady, intoxicating.
Only after what felt like forever did he ease back, foreheads pressed together, both of them breathless and flushed, hearts pounding in unison.
“Brinley…” His voice came out rough, thick with desire, his eyes dark and unyielding, as if they could devour her whole. “I want you,” he breathed, every word simmering with hunger.
Her cheeks flared crimson, her gaze darting nervously to the side, yet some unspoken impulse kept her rooted.
The glimmer of acceptance in her eyes made his chest tighten with fierce warmth, and he claimed her lips again, more urgent this time.
The kiss deepened, searing and demanding.
His hands roamed over her waist, leaving a trail of heat that made her skin tingle and her breath hitch.
Though her body trembled under his touch, she didn’t resist. When his palm slid to her back, a soft, helpless sound escaped her throat, as though her very breath was inviting him closer.