AVA'S POV
I closed my eyes, my heart thundering in my ears as my legs nearly gave out beneath me. I tried to steady myself, nervous about how he would react. My lips were still pressed against his, my arms wrapped around his neck. He didn't move at first, and I was almost certain he was about to pull away. Suddenly, he slipped a hand around my waist, and finally, his lips responded to mine.
He deepened the kiss, his hand tightening around my waist as he drew me closer. My mind drifted into a haze as he lifted me effortlessly until my legs instinctively wrapped around his waist. Without breaking the kiss, he carried me toward the staircase. We broke apart only briefly to catch our breath before our lips found each other again.
I was so lost in the kiss that I didn't realize we'd already
