The sound of my window sliding open nearly made me drop my phone.
"Ash?" I hissed, heart leaping out of my chest.
And there he was- pulling himself through the window like it was the most natural thing in the world. Hoodie half-zipped, hair wild, sneakers still on. He looked like he'd sprinted here, but his expressions? Completely unbothered. Calm. Dangerous.
"You weren't answeing," he said, voice deep and steady as his feet hit the floor. "So i figured... why wait?"
I scrambled to sit up, clutching my blanket to my chest. "You're insane. What if my mom-"
"Shh." He held a finger to his lips, eyes locking onto mine like he could pin me in place. "Don't pretend you don't want me here, love. You kept me on that phone for hours, teasing me with every little breath."
My pulse thrashed. "I wasn't teasing-"
"Yes, you were." He moved closer, slow, deliberate, each step heavier than the last. His voice dipped, velvet over gravel. "And now I'm here to collect what you owe me."
My throat went dry. "Owe you?"
another smirk, another groan slipping from deep in his chest as he leaned closer, so close i could feel the heat rolling off him. "You owe me those whispers you keep hiding. You owe me the kiss you were too scared to give me over the phone. And, jinx..." his voice dropped lower, rougher, freakier. "You owe me the chance to ruin that smart little mouth of yours until all you can say is my name."
I froze, every nerve ending sparking alive at once, torn between terror and want.
Ash just smiled, messy and unbothered, like he already knew he'd won