Emilio’s POV

The nickname hit me like a wave. Sugar. No one had ever called me that before. My face went bright red immediately. I didn’t know whether to laugh, apologize, or just melt into the floor.

“I—uh—sorry,” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

But he didn’t move away. His hand stayed where it was, firm against my waist. My shirt had ridden up a little when I tripped, and I realized his fingers were on my bare skin. Warm. Rough. Steady. He rubbed his thumb gently against my side, maybe without even realizing it, but it made my whole body go still.

The air between us changed—it...