I watched Ryder from across the room, his eyes still fixed on me as if he couldn’t tear them away. My heart pounded in my chest, the bond between us humming like an invisible string tugging me closer to him. But there was still that knot of uncertainty in my stomach, twisting tighter with every second I hesitated.
I had to talk to him. We couldn’t keep circling each other like this. I needed to know if this was what he truly wanted—if I was what he truly wanted.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed off the counter and walked toward him. Ryder straightened as I approached, his eyes darkening with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. The bond flared between us, and I could feel the heat simmering beneath my skin again, but I forced myself to focus. We needed to talk before the bond too
