She had only meant to show up, not make an entrance — but when she stepped into Leah's room wearing the deep olive dress that hugged her waist and skimmed her thighs, Leah had choked on her lip gloss.
"Girl. He will fall."
Ava rolled her eyes, but the warmth in her cheeks betrayed her.
The house was already buzzing when they arrived — music vibrating through the floor, laughter rising in bursts, the glow of string lights floating above the pool like stars pulled down to earth.
Nicholas was across the yard.
Talking. Laughing. Relaxed.
Until he saw her.
His words stopped mid-sentence.
His gaze locked on her — slow, drawn-out, like he was memorizing every inch.
One of his friends followed his stare and let out a low whistle.
"Bro… tell me that's not her."
Nicholas didn't answer.
He couldn't.
Ava pretended not to notice — but she felt it.
The weight of his eyes.
The heat of it.
She walked with Leah toward the patio, the hem of her dress swaying, her curls resting against her bare shoulders. The warm night air moved around her like anticipation.
Leah nudged her.
"He's literally burning holes through your dress."
"Stop," Ava murmured, failing to hide the small smile tugging her lips.
Minutes passed. Music shifted. More laughter, more splashing.
But Nicholas never looked away.
Not once.
"Come swim with me," Leah said suddenly, squeezing Ava's hand.
"I didn't bring a swimsuit."
"You did," Leah smirked. "I packed it when you weren't looking."
Ava groaned — but didn't argue.
Inside the bathroom mirror, she inhaled sharply.
The bikini was simple — black, clean lines, not too small — but the fit was… unfair.
She looked like she belonged in a summer movie scene that people rewatch just to feel something.
She stepped back outside.
For one moment — the party stilled.
Nicholas's friends noticed first.
"Holy—"
"Is that—?"
"Bro, she's—"
Nicholas didn't blink.
His jaw tightened.
His fingers curled around the glass in his hand.
Something flickered across his face — something raw.
Ava didn't go to him.
She slipped into the pool instead — smooth, quiet, her hair floating like ink on water.
Nicholas exhaled like he'd been holding his breath for minutes.
He changed shirts, dropped his watch, and entered the water without a word.
The pool was crowded — but somehow they ended up close.
A hand brushed her waist underwater.
Not gripping.
Just… resting.
Testing.
Ava's breathing caught.
Nicholas's voice found her ear — low, warm, wrecking.
"I've been trying to look away all night."
She didn't turn.
She didn't have to.
Water shifted — his body closer now, chest inches from her back.
"Everyone can see," she whispered.
"I know."
His thumb traced a slow, almost lazy line along her hip.
"And I still can't stop."
Ava swallowed.
"Nicholas…"
He moved in front of her — slow enough she could have moved away.
She didn't.
He backed her gently toward the pool wall — not trapping — just being there.
Their bodies didn't touch.
The space was thin enough to feel.
His eyes held hers — steady, sure, wanting.
"I'm not going to take anything from you," he said softly.
"But if you lean closer…"
His breath brushed her cheek.
"…I won't walk away."
Ava's heart stuttered.
Heat curled low in her stomach.
She didn't lean in.
But she didn't move away either.
And Nicholas smiled — slow, knowing, unraveling.
His hand rose from the water — fingers brushing her ribs, the side of her waist, the place where breath stutters when someone touches you like they mean it.
Her lips parted.
Not a word came out.
Nicholas leaned in — lips near her ear, voice barely sound:
"Not yet."
And the restraint was so intimate
so intense
so full of promise
that Ava felt dizzy.
He didn't kiss her.
He didn't need to.
The want was the kiss.