Vincent froze. His lips still hovering so close to mine I could feel the warmth of his breath.
"Wait?" he repeated quietly.
"Wait." I pulled back slightly, my hands still on his shoulders. "I can't. Not like this."
His expression shifted. Not anger. Not disappointment. Just understanding. He stepped back, giving me space.
"Okay."
"That's it? Just okay?"
"What else would I say?" Vincent walked over to the window, staring out at the city. "You said wait. I'm respecting that."
I wrapped my arms around myself. "You're not mad?"
"No." He turned back to face me. "Elena, I'm not Silas. I don't punish you for having boundaries. I asked a question. You answered. That's how this works."
"But you wanted me to kiss you back."
"Of course I did. But not because you felt obligated or confused o
