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It was like she was watching herself, or someone else, from above. The actions didn’t feel like her own. But then again, somehow they did. Like it was some long-lost version of herself.
A version that had died many years and paths before.
Even so, that familiar sense of ease washed over her.
She let her hand move until her fingers grazed against Maddie’s, and she watched Maddie’s lips part as her hand opened.
Saff took it, then gently placed it on the back of her own neck, where Maddie usually trailed her fingers over.
Maddie’s expression changed in an instant from one of surprise to something else. Something that was completely new, but still stirred some memory. Like maybe she’d seen a flash of that look once before, but couldn’t quite recall when.
And the second it appeared on Maddie’s face, it sent a burning shiver through her body.
Some feeling entered her chest. One that she hadn’t felt in years. And if she really let herself think about it, maybe not even then. Maybe she’d never really felt it.
No.A voice in her head shot off a warning. A warning she would usually never ignore. But this time, that voice was drowned out, suffocated by the pounding in her head—by the exhaustion of the day.
Thegoodday.
“I’m glad you came with me to see Sarah today,” Saff whispered, too aware of the short distance between them.
The corner of Maddie’s mouth tilted up in a smirk. “Yeah?”
Saff stilled as the breath of the word brushed over her lips.
“Yeah.” She swallowed. “You were good with her.”
Maddie’s fingers lightly brushed over the back of her neck, leaving a trail of goosebumps across her skin.
Saff watched her stark blue eyes take on a look that told her she knew exactly what the touch had done.
“You’re good with everyone,” Saff whispered.
She was close enough now that she could make out some speckles of deep dark blue splattered across her iris, like staring into the ocean during a rainstorm.
“Am I?” Maddie asked, her voice low and teasing as she shifted closer, her knee brushing against Saff’s. Then her hand trailed up into her hair the same way it always did. But something about it felt different.
“Yeah, you are,” Saff breathed, barely recognizing the raspy husk in her own voice.
The corner of Maddie’s mouth tugged up in a teasing smirk. “Am I good with you?”
Saff swallowed, going still as Maddie’s hand moved back down, her nails lightly grazing her skin until her hand had moved to the side of her neck.
Her fingers continued up to her earlobe, then lightly traced back down over the curve of her jaw.
A shiver ran down Saff’s front, starting at the base of her neck and settling as a deep begging ache somewhere much lower.
She swallowed again, her throat bobbing beneath Maddie’s palm.
And instantly, the look in Maddie’s eyes darkened.
Maddie’s head tilted just the slightest bit forward, as her fingers trailed back up along her jawline.
Another shiver ran through Saff’s body.
No. No. No.
The warning voice in her head re-emerged and continued until it was practically screaming.