I risked another glance at him, letting my eyes linger just a little longer than necessary. Blake’s lips parted slightly, and then—exactly as I knew he would—his fingertips skated lightly up my shin, tracing small circles along my skin.

My voice faltered for half a second, but I recovered quickly, flicking my eyes back to the words on the page.

“Oh,” I said lightly, “I think this part’s important.”

“Oh yeah?”

I nodded once. “His touch, unhurried and teasing, was meant to drive her to the brink, lingering in places long enough to make her heart race faster, to make her body ache with longing.”

Blake hummed, his thumb smoothing over the sensitive skin behind my knee. I swallowed, gripping the book a little tighter.

“She barely had time to react before he tilted her ankle, pressing a kiss against the delicate bone there.”

Blake slowly pushed himself up and knelt in front of me.

He gently tilted my ankle, just as the book described, and then pressed a soft kiss to the bone there. “Like this?”

I pressed my lips together, trying to focus, trying not to react, but Blake—of course—noticed.

His eyes flicked up, watching me carefully, as if he had heard every unspoken thought, every unvoiced wish tangled in my words. “You were right. This is a much better idea than a movie.”

A breathy laugh escaped me. “Glad you’re enjoying yourself.”

His fingers flexed against my leg. “Keep going, B.”

Turning my attention back to the book, I found my place again, pretending that my pulse wasn’t hammering wildly beneath my skin. “His hand slid further, his touch deliberate, his fingertips pressing into the curve of her waist as he leaned in closer.”

Blake’s palm spread over my side, following the words like a script. Even through the fabric of my hoodie, the heat of his touch seeped into my skin. I forced a slow exhale and glanced back down at the page, pretending to skim the words even though I knew exactly what came next. “He tilted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze, his thumb brushing over her bottom lip in a silent promise.”

His fingers found my jaw, tilting my face toward him until I had no choice but to look into those ridiculously green eyes of his. His thumb ghosted over my lower lip, unbearably soft.

“She gasped as he⁠—”

Blake leaned in, his lips brushing against the shell of my ear. “Did she?”

“Yeah,” I managed. “Yeah, she did.”

“Hmm.” His voice was thoughtful. “Interesting book.”

I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. “Yeah.”

“You gonna finish the passage, or…?”

I swallowed hard, the book in my hands suddenly feeling impossibly heavy. “—as he kissed her there, his hands still exploring⁠—”