Chapter 26

The night air was thick with tension, a current between Selena and Von that neither of them could ignore anymore. They'd danced around it for so long, but now, with their bodies close, with the cool breeze brushing past them as they sat in that quiet spot, it was almost too much to deny.

Selena passed the blunt back to Von, her fingers grazing his, and she felt the touch all the way through her body, a spark she hadn't realized she was craving. He met her gaze, his eyes dark, but there was a flicker of something else—something deep, something raw.

"You know," Selena started, her voice quieter now, a little more serious, but with a playful edge, "I haven't really been focused on anyone since I got back." She turned slightly, leaning into the side of the bench, her arm resting along the back, just a few inches from Von's.

Von's gaze sharpened, his lips curling up slightly. "Oh, really?" He kept his voice low, a hint of amusement in it, but his eyes never left hers.

Selena felt the heat creeping up her neck, her chest tight. "Yeah," she said softly, meeting his eyes, a challenge in her voice. "But I think I could make an exception... if the right person came along."

Von's lips quirked into a smirk, his eyes glinting with something darker now. "Is that so?" He leaned closer, closing the gap between them, his hand brushing lightly against her leg. It wasn't much, but the touch sent a rush through her body, leaving her breathless for a second.

She didn't pull away, letting her body lean just a fraction closer to his. "Yeah," she murmured, her voice a little huskier. "Maybe the right person is already here."

Von's eyes flicked down to her lips, then back up to her eyes, his expression unreadable for a moment. The air between them grew charged, thick with something unspoken, something neither of them had acknowledged until now.

He moved closer, his hand sliding slowly down the bench, brushing against her side, his fingers grazing the curve of her waist. It was soft, almost teasing, but it made her breath hitch in her throat.

"You don't play fair, huh?" Von whispered, his voice low and raspy, like he was savoring the moment, testing her.

Selena swallowed, her heart pounding in her chest. She was trying to hold back, trying to keep her cool, but the chemistry between them was undeniable. "I never said I played fair."

Von leaned in even closer, his lips hovering just above her ear. "You know what happens when you start something with me, right?" His breath against her skin made her shiver, sending a wave of heat through her body.

Selena felt the tension between them hit its peak. She could feel the pull, the magnetic force drawing her in, and without thinking, she turned her head slightly, brushing her lips against his in the most delicate, teasing kiss. It was barely a touch, just enough to make everything else around them fade into the background.

When she pulled back, Von's eyes were darker than before, his jaw tight. He looked at her with that same mix of amusement and something deeper, something she couldn't quite place.

"You got me fucked up," Von muttered under his breath, but there was a fire in his gaze now, a hunger that made Selena's pulse race.

She smirked, a challenge in her eyes. "Maybe I like to get people fucked up."

Von didn't say anything more. Instead, he closed the distance between them in an instant, his lips crashing against hers with an urgency that made Selena's heart race. It wasn't soft, it wasn't slow—it was a kiss filled with all the built-up tension, the unspoken desire, the raw need that had been simmering between them for so long.

Her hands found his chest, fingers curling into the fabric of his hoodie, pulling him closer, feeling the warmth of his body against hers. He responded immediately, his hands sliding to her waist, pulling her even closer, as if there was nothing in the world but the two of them.

The kiss deepened, heated, urgent, the kind that left them both breathless. Selena couldn't remember the last time she felt so consumed by someone, so lost in the moment. Everything else—the blogs, the drama, the trip—faded away. It was just her and Von, tangled together in the kind of kiss that spoke louder than words ever could.

Finally, they pulled back, both gasping for air, faces flushed, hearts pounding. Selena's chest rose and fell with each breath, and she couldn't help but smile, a satisfied, slightly wild grin tugging at the corners of her lips.

Von was still close, his forehead resting against hers, his breath coming fast. "Damn," he muttered, his voice rough. "You play a dangerous game, you know that?"

Selena laughed softly, the sound light, carefree. "Guess you gotta keep up, then."

Von just shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips as he kissed her again, slower this time, as if savoring the moment, drawing it out. Selena closed her eyes, letting herself fall into the feeling, the warmth of his lips, the heat of his touch.

She wasn't thinking about the consequences, the complications, or the drama anymore. All that mattered right now was the way he made her feel, and for once, she let herself enjoy it fully.