**Gabe’s POV**
The final notes of the song rang out right as she moved to press her mouth more firmly against mine. Her soft lips pressed against mine in a way that made my heart race faster. However, just as I moved to deepen the kiss, her eyes snapped open at the sound of the music fading, and she quickly stepped back.
Her cheeks were pink, and her eyes glinted with an intense longing in them. She wanted this. I knew she would eventually because the pull of the bond was strong between us. But the harsh reality was that I didn’t want her to want it because of the bond. Not anymore. I wanted her to want me because…I wanted her to feel the same way I felt about her.
I could see the wariness slowly creeping back into her gaze, the walls going back up. That was something that I definite
