Charles seems to pick up on the heavy shift in energy between us, his expression growing serious and intense. He takes a step closer to me, erasing the remaining distance.
"Cassie..." he begins, his voice low and husky. "About what happened before Becca arrived...I think we owe it to ourselves to finally address the truth here."
My throat feels parched and I nervously wet my lips before replying. "W-what truth is that exactly?"
Rather than answer directly, Charles simply holds my gaze, those green eyes of his boring into me with an ardent heat. Slowly, he reaches up and trails the backs of his fingers along my jawline in a featherlight caress.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about," he murmurs intently. "This...connection between us that's been there for years, simmering just under
