Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

One of them was ice, the other fire-and somehow, they just fit together, like it was meant to be.

Clara gave it her all, kissing him until she felt breathless, like he'd stolen the very air from her lungs. She finally turned her head away, gasping for air.

Dylan rested his head against her neck, his own breathing just as shaky. Once she'd caught her breath, Clara, still under the covers, slid her arms around his waist. "Will you stay with me tonight?"

He paused, didn't answer. She didn't let go, not caring whether he said yes or not.

Dylan waited until she drifted off before gently sitting up, watching her sleep. He grabbed his bathrobe and slipped away for a cold shower.

When he came back, she'd already moved over, leaving half the bed just for him. He stood there for a second, then lifted the blanket and climbed in beside her.

The room was still lit, though only the little lamp by the bed was on now, casting everything in a soft, hazy glow.

Clara felt him settle next to her—a cool, fresh presence. She rolled over, but the movement pulled at her injured shoulder. She winced, hissing in pain.

Dylan placed a gentle hand on her, his voice soothing. "Don't move around."

She stilled, just her face poking out from the covers. "Z, come closer. I haven't seen you in forever. I missed you."

She scooted nearer as she spoke, grabbing his hand and guiding it up her side. Her fingers traced over his abs, then up to his throat. She was too out of it to realize just how perfect his body was.

Dylan caught her hand, pressing her fingers to his lips for a soft kiss. His tone was gentle, almost like he was coaxing her to sleep. "Go to sleep."

Clara's mind spun with memories of all the crazy, wild times she'd had with Z. It all felt a little unreal.

"Just... sleep?" she whispered.

He suddenly laughed-really laughed, shoulders shaking with it. It was the second time that night.

Clara's head was a mess, and she didn't even register his laughter. She just couldn't believe that after so long apart, they'd just lie here and do nothing. Still, she worried about coming off too desperate.

So she asked, uncertain, "Are we really just... going to sleep? Like, just sleep?"

Dylan couldn't stop laughing, his

normally cool eyes now soft and shining under his messy hair. If

she'd been more awake, she might have thought he looked like a

mischievous fox.

She waited, and in her mind it felt like forever-though it was really only a few seconds.

Dylan finally calmed down. He grabbed a tissue and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead. Her nose was all pink, and she looked like she'd lost every last bit of self-control.

He leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. "Yeah. Just sleep."

With that, he lay back and closed his eyes, leaving the lamp on as he tried to fall asleep. As long as she was there, he could keep the rest of the world out.

But Clara was anything but settled. Suddenly, she was straddling his waist.

Dylan's eyes snapped open, his entire body tensing. Her hands fumbled across his chest, searching for something-he had no idea what.

He turned his head away, trying to hide how much she was affecting him. She muttered, “Why are you pretending?"

He didn't say a word, Adam's apple bobbing, eyes rimmed red.

Clara finally found what she was looking for and lifted her hips just a little.

Dylan turned back, sweat beading on his forehead as he gritted out, "Stop messing around."

But Clara only leaned in, pressing a kiss to his cool lips. "Come on, don't be mad. I didn't mean to ignore you these past few days. You know you're my favorite."noveldrama

With Z, Clara's sweet talk was

endless she never hesitated, never held back. She was always the bold one. They'd both been reckless more times than she could count, no point in pretending otherwise.

But Dylan didn't react this time, and she frowned. That wasn't right.

Z was tough to coax, but whenever she pulled this move, he'd always forgive her, even if he kept a straight face. She thought she had him Figured out. So why did he still seem upset?