Maylen gripped the railing beside her apartment door because her knees trembled too much to keep her steady. Lanry stood only a breath away, close enough for her to feel the heat rolling off him. His eyes searched her face with a hunger he wasn’t bothering to hide.
“Tell me to leave,” he whispered again. “Or let me stay.”
His voice scraped through her like an ache she had avoided for too long.
“Lanry,” she breathed, “I’m already overwhelmed.”
“I know.” He stepped closer, barely an inch, but her body felt it like a spark. “And I’m trying to stay calm. I swear I am. But I can’t walk away from you when you’re shaking like this.”
Her eyes fluttered shut for a moment. “You’re the reason I’m shaking.”
Lanry swallowed hard. “Then let me fix it. Please.”
Her pulse stuttered. “It doesn’t wor
