In those few seconds, Emily Blair's eyes widened, her pupils contracting.
Tristan Davis's scent filled her lungs with every breath—a crisp, clean fragrance from his favorite laundry detergent. She'd never really paid attention to it before, but now it invaded her senses, curling around her nerves, making her shiver with a strange, inexplicable tremor.
Her mind seized up, like a rusty old engine grinding to a halt, leaving only the most basic, involuntary reactions of her body.
She blinked, slow and stiff, and the soft pressure against her lips sent her heart plunging from stunned stillness into a frenzied, thunderous gallop.
Tristan's face was so close-so close their noses brushed, lips pressed together, their warm breaths mingling in the small space between them.
It took Emily a moment to catch up, to even realize what was happening.
Was Tristan... kissing her?
He had his eyes closed, utterly intent, and she froze, barely daring to breathe. Instinctively, she tried to retreat, but her head was already pressed against the car door. There was nowhere to go. She hunched her shoulders, shrinking in on herself, holding her breath, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he must hear it.
Her thoughts spun in a wild, chaotic tumble.
This had to be an accident. Right? How could this possibly be happening? Tristan Davis, kissing her?
He must have lost his mind. Yes, that was it-Tristan had finally gone crazy.
Emily wanted to scream.
No, seriously... why was Tristan doing this?
She had no idea how much time had passed-seconds, minutes? His lips stayed firmly pressed to hers, and even though it was just a soft touch, her lips tingled, her chest tightening as she tried not to gasp.
This was getting really weird.
She thought about pushing him away, but just as she shifted slightly, her lips brushed against his, moving in a way she hadn't intended. Because Tristan's mouth was sealed so tightly over hers, even the smallest motion felt like a gentle suck...
Her mind went completely blank. She found herself lightly catching his lower lip between hers, paralyzed, unable to move.
Tristan's breathing hitched, turning ragged and urgent. He suddenly grabbed her shoulders, pinning her against the car door.
Emily winced, a low whimper escaping her.
Their lips broke apart for a brief moment, foreheads touching, his breath trembling against her skin. His eyes locked on hers, wild and intense—nothing like the Tristan she knew. He looked at her like a predator sizing up its prey.
Up close, his gaze sent a chill through her scalp. “Tristan Davis, you need to calm dow-"
He cut her off with a muffled sound, diving down to bite her lip-hard.
Pain shot through her, and she furrowed her brow, shoving at his shoulders. When that didn't work, she balled her fists and thumped his chest, desperate to make him stop.
Tristan's breathing grew heavier, his warm breath hot against her face, raising goosebumps all over her skin.
She squeezed her eyes shut, and suddenly, he released her lip. Instead, he traced the seam of her tightly pressed lips with the tip of his tongue, testing, coaxing.
Emily's whole body went rigid.
He really has lost his mind. He's completely insane.
She clamped her teeth together, lips sealed tight, refusing to let him in.
He tried for a moment, then, frustrated by her resistance, bit her again. Their lips parted.
"Let me go..." she managed, voice trembling.
But in the next instant, he pinched the sensitive skin at her waist.
She gasped, jerking reflexively-straight into his arms. He took the opportunity,
sliding his hand to her back and pulling her flush against him.
Emily stared at him in disbelief, mouth open. “Tristan Davis!"
He kissed her again, this time with nothing in his way.
Despair washed over her as she felt herself being conquered, his lips and tongue claiming her own. Their breaths tangled, the line between them blurring, until she couldn't tell where she ended and he began.