~ Chapter 26 ~
Reed woke up slowly.
Not to an alarm.
Not to noise.
But to warmth.
Real, solid warmth tucked into his side.
For a split second, his brain didn't catch up to reality.
Then he felt her.
Eva.
Curled toward him, one knee nudged between his, her hand resting lightly on his chest like it had always belonged there. Her hair was a mess of soft strands across his hoodie, her breathing slow and even, lips parted slightly in sleep.
Reed stayed completely still.
Not because he had to.
Because he didn't want to break whatever this was.
Last night replayed in quiet fragments.
Her touching his scar.
Her saying she wasn't afraid of him.
Her voice when she said she trusted him.
His chest tightened in the best and worst way.
He shifted slightly.
Eva stirred.
Not fully awake.
Just enough to press closer.
Reed's jaw clenched.
Fuck.
He closed his eyes for a second.
This was new territory.
Not hooking up.
Not casual.
Not a girl crashing in his bed after a party.
This was... someone he cared about.
Someone who felt safe.
Someone who smelled like vanilla and warmth and something that was quickly becoming addictive.
Eva blinked awake slowly.
Brown eyes unfocused at first.
Then she realized where she was.
Who she was with.
Her gaze drifted to his face.
"Oh," she whispered.
Reed smiled.
"Morning."
Her cheeks flushed instantly.
"Hi."
They stared at each other like idiots.
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them pulled away.
Eva shifted slightly, realizing how close they were, realizing her thigh was basically pressed between his.
Her breath hitched.
Reed noticed.
Of course he noticed.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
She nodded.
"Yes. Just... processing."
Reed huffed a soft laugh.
"Same."
Silence stretched.
Not awkward.
Charged.
Eva's eyes dropped.
Very briefly.
To his mouth.
Reed felt it in his stomach.
A low, slow pull.
He didn't lean in.
Didn't rush.
Just watched her.
Eva swallowed.
Then looked back up at him.
"I should probably... get dressed."
Reed nodded.
"Yeah. I'll make coffee."
They both moved at the same time.
Immediately bumped into each other.
Eva yelped softly.
Reed grabbed her waist without thinking.
Hands warm.
Firm.
Supportive.
Eva froze.
So did Reed.
They were standing chest to chest now.
Too close.
Very aware.
Neither of them stepped back.
Eva's hands hovered near his sides like she didn't know where to put them.
Reed's thumbs flexed once against her waist.
Tiny movement.
Huge consequence.
Eva's breath came faster.
Reed's voice dropped.
"Eva."
She looked up.
"Yes?"
He didn't know what he was about to say.
Only that everything in him wanted to pull her closer.
Wanted to feel her mouth.
Wanted to hear what she sounded like when she wasn't holding herself back.
Instead, he said:
"Go get dressed before I forget how to behave."
Eva let out a tiny, nervous laugh.
"Okay."
She slipped past him.
Reed stood there for a second.
Hands empty.
Body very much not calm.
He went to the kitchen.
Started coffee.
Tried not to think about how Eva felt in his arms.
Failed.
Ryan wandered out half-asleep, shirtless, hair sticking up.
Stopped.
Looked at Reed.
Looked toward the hallway.
Smirked.
"Oh. You had company."
Reed didn't bother denying it.
"She stayed."
Ryan's smirk softened into something approving.
"About time."
Felix appeared next, immediately clocking Reed's expression.
"You look like you got emotionally wrecked and laid at the same time."
Reed glared.
"I did neither."
Felix grinned. "Yet."
Vinod walked in, glanced at the coffee, then at Reed.
"You smiling this early is disturbing."
Reed poured coffee.
"Shut up."
Eva appeared in the hallway.
Wearing her own clothes now.
Hair still messy.
Cheeks still pink.
All three guys stared.
Ryan whistled.
"Good morning to you too, sunshine."
Eva hid half her face behind her sleeve.
"Good morning."
Felix leaned toward Reed.
"She's cute. I get it."
Reed slid an arm around Eva's shoulders without thinking.
Pulled her slightly into his side.
"She's with me."
Ryan raised both hands.
"Message received."
Eva melted a little.
Reed felt it.
He made eggs.
Toast.
Nothing fancy.
But Eva watched him like he was performing surgery.
"You cook?" she asked softly.
"Bare minimum survival level."
She smiled. "I like it."
They sat at the counter.
Knees brushing.
Hands occasionally bumping.
Every accidental touch felt intentional anyway.
Eva took a bite of eggs.
"These are really good."
Reed knew they were normal eggs.
But the way she said it?
Like it mattered?
He felt ten feet tall.
Ryan leaned over.
"So did you guys, like..."
Reed cut him off.
"No."
Felix blinked.
"Oh."
Ryan nodded.
"Respect."
Eva's face was basically on fire.
Reed's hand rested at her lower back.
Not groping.
Not exploring.
Just there.
Grounding.
Claiming.
Eva leaned into it.
Without thinking.
That did dangerous things to Reed's self-control.
They ended up alone in the kitchen when the others drifted off.
Eva traced the rim of her mug with her finger.
"Can I say something kind of embarrassing?"
Reed nodded.
"Yeah."
"I... didn't know I could feel like this."
He tilted his head.
"Like what?"
She hesitated.
"Like I want someone. Physically. Not just emotionally. And it's... you."
Reed's breath went shallow.
"That's not embarrassing."
She looked at him.
"It's scary."
He nodded.
"It's scary for me too."
Silence.
Heavy.
Honest.
Reed stepped closer.
Slow.
Gave her time.
"Can I kiss you?"
Eva nodded.
"Yes."
He kissed her.
Not soft.
Not rough.
Somewhere in between.
Mouth warm.
Lingering.
Intentional.
Eva's hands slid up into his hoodie.
Fisted the fabric.
Reed groaned quietly before he could stop himself.
The sound went straight to Eva's core.
They broke apart, breathing hard.
Foreheads pressed together.
Reed swallowed.
"I really want you."
Eva nodded.
"I really want you too."
Reed brushed his thumb over her cheek.
"But I'm not rushing this."
Eva's eyes softened.
"Thank you."
He kissed her again.
Slower.
Deeper.
Promise-heavy.
When they finally pulled apart, Eva was flushed.
Eyes dark.
Lips swollen.
Reed was hanging on by a thread.
"Next time," he murmured.
Eva smiled shyly.
"I like that there's a next time."
Reed did too.
A lot.