[Fate draws them together × Two strong personalities tame each other × Growth × Mutual salvation]
[Cool genius girl × Iron-willed military officer]
His hand gripped her waist, his thumb rubbing back and forth through her sweater, making her spine tingle.
“That 0.17 seconds,”
His voice was hoarse beyond recognition, his lips almost brushing her ear. “Did you do that on purpose?”
She didn’t answer.
Her fingers slid down from his Adam’s apple, unhurried. At his collar, her fingertip hooked around the first brass button. She didn’t undo it. She just held it there, her nail lightly scraping the edge of the metal.
His hand clamped around her waist, suddenly tightening.
But she leaned forward half an inch. When the tip of her nose was almost touching his, she stopped and lowered her eyes to his lips.
His Adam’s apple bobbed.
“Let go,” she said.
He didn’t. Not only did he refuse to let go, but his thumb slipped beneath the edge of her sweater, against her skin. One inch, then two, before stopping in the hollow of her lower back. He neither moved forward nor pulled away. He simply held her there.
Her lashes trembled.
The carriage was so quiet that only their breathing could be heard. It was fifteen degrees below zero, yet the windows were fogged white. His knee was still pressed between her legs, the rough fabric of his military trousers rubbing against her inner thigh. If she leaned forward just a little more, her lips would meet his
Suddenly, he smiled.
It was faint, his voice rasping like sandpaper against skin.
“Shen Qingyao.” As he said her name, his thumb traced a circle in the hollow of her lower back.
“Move your hand lower.”
She didn’t move.
He lowered his head, the tip of his nose touching hers, his breath spilling across her lips.
She looked at him. Three seconds.
Her hand rested on his belt buckle.
She didn’t undo it. She just left it there, her fingertips grazing that small patch of metal as if by accident.
His breathing fell completely out of rhythm.
