21.

His eyes darken, he looks at her intently, making her breath stutters to a halt.

She's never seen such longing from a man before, such open, honest need.

Her fingers reach up, graze his lips and they part, drawing in exploring fingers.

"We can't," he says, voice just above a whisper.

She shakes her head, denial clear in her stance, her expression, her eyes.

He catches her hand, draws it away, holds her at arm's length.

She returns his stare, lets him see her, see what she wants.

Him, only him. "Yes," she says. "We can."

He kisses her hard.