CHAPTER 19

　　“Kiss me, Gabriel,” I whispered, and his eyes opened, widening slightly. He hesitated, that fear flashing in them again. I smiled, pulling his face gently. “Do you know?” I whispered against his lips, and despite his hesitation, I sensed his mouth opening as if drawn by the gravity that our own bodies created. “They say that if you kiss a place that is hurting, it hurts less. Make it hurt less. Please.”

　　I brushed my lips against his, waiting for his reaction until finally, he responded. His mouth covered mine, moving slowly at first, as if trying to see if I would cry out or wince or whimper and when I smiled, his kiss turned deeper, harder, his tongue slipping into my mouth while his body pressed against mine.

　　He shifted his weight, so he was leaning on his elbow, then broke our kiss and covered my chin with kisses, trailing to my neck as one of his hands pushed my hair out of the way, his fingers caressing my skin as if it was made of something extremely fragile.