Chapter 27: One Fell Swoop

Willow’s hands clasped the back of Garin’s neck, urging him closer. She kissed him deeply, passionately but with less urgency than their first kiss. Despite having even more at stake now than ever before, she felt less scared. Less like that she had clutched the moment tightly in her fists else it drift away but more like she was in the thick of the fire and happy to burn.

His kisses were softer than hers but no less passionate. Where she was strength and fire, he was gentle and cool. He pulled back from her and gazed at her, a smile on his lips.

“What?” she asked, her face flushed, and her lips bruised, turning a deep crimson. He shook his head, his smile suddenly shy.

“It kind of just hit me that this time, last week, we had met for the first time. And I was incredibly rude to you. Now we are lying in bed together,” he said with a laugh.

“It has been a hell of a week,” she agreed. He ran a finger gently down her jaw, causing her to shiver.