"Deal," I responded, and the word had barely settled between us before everything shifted.
His hand came up to the back of my head, firm but not rough, guiding me forward. There was something deliberate about it—like he had been waiting for that exact moment, waiting for me to agree so he could close the distance without hesitation. I knew, distantly, that I could pull away if I wanted to.
But I didn't.
And that realization alone sent a quiet ripple through me.
It irritated me, how easily he'd set this up, how obvious it suddenly felt that this had been part of his plan all along. Yet at the same time, there was a strange satisfaction in it too. If this was a game, at least he wasn't the only one playing and I got something out of the new deal.
His lips met mine with a confidence that left no room for second-guessing. It wasn't hesitant or testing—it was certain. Like he already knew I wouldn't stop him.
For a fraction of a second, I stayed still. Then I kissed him right back.
