The classroom was silent, holding its breath. It was a Sunday so no student was in the classroom not even in the whole school . Courtney’s notebook slipped from her hands, forgotten on the desk. Hunter stood close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from him, his chest rising and falling with sharp restraint. His hand brushed against her jaw, rough fingertips trembling as if fighting gravity itself.

She didn’t give him the chance to retreat again. Courtney leaned forward, lips ...