Page 31 of Kill for a Kiss

He shrugs, abs just barely peeking as he adjusts. “You don’t?”

He leans back like he owns the world, and maybe, for a second, it feels like I’m part of it.

“Alright,” he says. “You pick the movie.”

I blink. “Me?”

“Only rule is it has to be something scary. No boring stuff. I want jump scares, suspense, and excuses.” He grins. “To pull you closer.”

“Shameless…” I murmur, but I take the remote anyway.

“Oh, you love it.”

I pretend not to notice him stretching even more, his shirt riding up. I definitely don’t stare.

“Elle?” He sounds so amused.

“I’m picking,” I say quickly, randomly choosing the first horror title.

When our eyes meet again, his gaze dips. “You scare easy, Elle?”

My throat feels tight. I don’t answer.

He slides closer. “If something gets to you, lean on me, yeah?”

I nod.

He smiles, patting the pillow beside him. “Come on. Just in case.”

I sit, not too close, but close enough. The screen flickers, casting a cold blue light across the dim room. The movie plays. Shadows stretch with every jump scare. The eerie soundtrack hums low, tension building on screen. But I can’t seem to focus on it. Stan sits beside me, relaxed, arm slung across the headboard, close enough that I can feel the warmth of him, even without touching.

“You okay there, Elle?” he murmurs, still sounding amused.

I quickly face forward. “I’m fine.”

“Mm-hmm.” He hums. “You looked like you were about to jump on my lap.”

I scoff softly. “I did not.”

He chuckles. It’s warm.He’swarm. “Liar. But hey, I wouldn’t mind if you needed to hold on to me again.”

His grin is playful, and I can’t help but smile a little.

A shriek bursts from the speakers. I startle, and my hand grabs his thick arm. He stills, then leans into the touch, flexing ever so slightly. “See?” he teases.

Heat floods my face. I try to pull away, but his fingers curl around mine, light and easy. He doesn’t let go.

“You don’t have to,” he says softly, less teasing now.

His thumb brushes the back of my hand. Slow, steady, and for once, so is my heart. So I don’t pull away.

His touch stays warm and gentle. “This feels right,” he says with a light sigh.

I don’t know what to say.

He smiles. “It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything. I can wait.”

I glance down at our hands, entwined now. I look back up. He’s just watching, as if merely being here is enough.