~ Chapter 22 ~
Reed
The movie itself barely registered.
Not because it was bad.
Not because it was boring.
But because Eva was sitting next to him.
Too close to be accidental.
Not close enough to be innocent.
She had worn a silky top and jeans.
Not flashy.
Not revealing.
But soft.
The kind of fabric that caught light when she moved.
The kind that clung just enough to hint at curves without giving anything away.
Reed noticed.
Immediately.
He didn't comment.
Not because he didn't want to.
Because he didn't trust his voice.
She laughed quietly at something on-screen, leaning toward him without realizing it. Her knee brushed his.
Once.
Twice.
Neither of them moved away.
Reed kept his arm resting on the armrest between them, fingers flexing slightly every time her leg pressed against his.
He felt aware of everything.
Her breathing.
The faint vanilla scent clinging to her skin.
The way she tucked her hair behind her ear when she got nervous.
He had spent years mastering control.
On the court.
In life.
With women.
Eva made that control feel like an active choice instead of a default state.
Which was... new.
When the credits rolled, Eva stretched slightly, arms lifting just enough for a sliver of skin to show between her top and waistband.
Reed looked away.
Immediately.
"Did you like it?" she asked.
He glanced back at her.
"Yeah," he said honestly. "But I liked being here with you more."
Her cheeks turned pink.
She looked down.
"I did too."
The drive back was quiet.
Not awkward.
Not forced.
The kind of quiet that hummed.
Low music played through the speakers. Eva stared out the window, absently twisting the ring on her finger. Reed kept both hands on the wheel, knuckles tight.
He could feel her.
Not physically.
Energetically.
Like her presence occupied space.
Like the air in the car shifted around her.
When he pulled up outside her apartment, he didn't turn the engine off right away.
Neither of them reached for the door handle.
Silence settled.
Not empty.
Heavy.
Reed finally killed the engine.
The quiet felt louder.
He turned toward her.
Eva was already looking at him.
Her eyes searched his face like she was waiting for something.
He swallowed.
"Can I kiss you?" he asked.
She didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
Reed leaned in slowly, giving her time to change her mind.
She didn't.
Their lips met.
Soft at first.
Unrushed.
Testing.
Eva sighed quietly into the kiss, and something in Reed snapped—not explosively, not recklessly—but in a slow, spreading way.
He deepened the kiss.
Not rough.
Not desperate.
Just fuller.
Eva's hand slid to his chest, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt.
Reed felt that everywhere.
He lifted one hand to her jaw, thumb brushing along her cheekbone, tilting her face slightly to deepen the angle.
Her lips parted.
Reed kissed her like he'd been wanting to since he laid eyes on her.
Like he'd been wanting to since the library.
Like he'd been wanting to since he first watched her explain stats like she was born to make sense of chaos.
Eva shifted closer.
Her knee slid between his.
Her body pressed into his in a way that was unintentional.
And completely devastating.
Reed groaned softly against her mouth before he could stop himself.
Eva froze for half a second.
Then melted into him.
Her other hand slid up his neck.
Small fingers.
Warm.
Exploratory.
Reed's hand drifted from her jaw to her waist.
Then lower.
Resting at her hip.
The curve of her fit perfectly in his palm.
Like it had always been meant to.
He kissed her harder.
Still controlled.
But loaded.
Eva made a small sound in the back of her throat.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
But needy.
Reed's entire body reacted.
He was hard.
Painfully so.
He didn't move his hips.
Didn't grind.
Didn't chase friction.
Every instinct told him to pull her into his lap and never let go.
He didn't.
Because Eva mattered.
Because he respected her more than he wanted release.
Because he wanted their first time to be something he remembered for the rest of his life.
Not something that happened because he lost control in a parked car.
Reed broke the kiss.
Not abruptly.
Not cold.
Forehead resting against hers.
Breathing heavy.
Eva looked dazed.
Lips swollen.
Eyes dark.
Beautiful.
Reed closed his eyes for a second.
"I want you," he said quietly.
Eva's breath hitched.
"Like... really bad."
Her fingers tightened in his shirt.
Reed opened his eyes.
"But I'm not doing this here," he continued. "Not like this. Not rushed. Not in my car."
Eva nodded slowly.
"I don't want our first time to be something we stumble into," Reed said. "I want it to be something we choose. Something we're both ready for."
Her eyes softened.
"You make it really hard to be good," Reed added, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Do you know that?"
Eva let out a shaky laugh.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be," he said immediately. "You're beautiful. You feel incredible. You drive me insane."
Her cheeks burned.
"You're... doing a lot right now," she admitted.
Reed brushed his thumb gently under her eye.
"Good," he said. "I want you to know how wanted you are."
Eva leaned forward and kissed him again.
Softer this time.
Slower.
Reed kissed her back with the same care.
When they finally pulled apart, Eva rested her forehead against his.
"Thank you for stopping," she whispered.
Reed's chest tightened.
"Always," he said. "I'm not going to be the guy who takes from you. I want to be the guy you trust."
Eva nodded.
"I do trust you."
Reed sat back slowly, forcing space between them before he lost his mind.
He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'm going to walk you to your door," he said.
Eva smiled.
"Okay."
They didn't say anything else.
They didn't need to.
The tension stayed.
Unresolved.
Alive.
Waiting.
And Reed knew one thing with terrifying clarity:
He had never wanted to do anything right more than he wanted to do this right with Eva.