Her eyes lingered on that slowly fading grin, not even fully aware of the fact that Mitchell was staring at her too, aside from subconscious tingling she felt on the back of her neck, pleasant against her skin. Soon, it didn't matter, the two of them leaned too close for her gaze to focus, eyes falling shut as she returned the kiss, and her lips easily parting with a soft, satisfied inhale. The hand which had lingered by his ear wove into his hair, a little needy and insistent, movement keeping tremors away from her fingers.

To say that she hadn't imagined how things might develop between them over time would have been a blatant lie, even if her speculation usually went unvoiced. But all of her expectations, the scenarios she spent spare time daydreaming of, vanished without a trace then as a lazy haziness fell over her senses, her free hand teasing at the bottom button of his plaid shirt until it popped free. The heart which was still beating violently in her chest made itself known in the quiet whimper that passed through her lips as she took a step back toward the bed, wondering if he'd follow.