I’ll admit that I didn’t consider our size difference before flying, and this is far more challenging than I anticipated. Oops.
I land on the high rooftop of one of the marketplace’s shops, surrounded by a sheet of puffy clouds and other golden buildings. The rooftop is lined with an intricate golden railing. Additionally, there are a couple of stone benches here, too. I make sure he lands smoothly before planting my feet on the ground and facing him.
“Cleo… Do you realize that was my first time flying?”
Oh, heavens. I took his flight virginity from him without asking first.
“I’m so sorry.” I step toward him. “I shouldn’t have done that… I just got carried away with the rush of the moment. I have no idea what came over me; it must have been the music—”
“Hey, hey, hey. No need,” he says, grabbing on to my shoulders and reassuring me with a kind smile. “That was mind-blowing. Honestly, I’m glad I got to experience that with you. Who knows if I’ll ever get to fly alone anyway?”
I hope he gets his own wings one day.I rest my hand on his arm. “Well, I think we made Stephen sufficiently angry tonight. You’re almost too good at pretending.”
“Excuse me,I’mtoo good at pretending? You deserve a literal award for the way you acted tonight,” he mutters, releasing my shoulders and pushing his hand through his golden waves.
“I’ll admit, it was pleasant pretending for the evening. It felt nice not to care.” I glance at the stars.
“Where did you learn to dance like that? I could hardly keep up with your fancy footwork,” he says while shaking his head and smiling.
I haven’t talked about my life before in ages… Something about him makes it too easy to share.
“I used to love dancing. I danced for years and years until I died. In fact, I even danced the night before I died. It’s foolish, I know, but dancing has always brought me a sense of belonging and freedom.”
“That’s not foolish, angel,” he murmurs, tucking a strand of loose hair behind my ear. “You were otherworldly. I don’t know if I’ve ever been that awestruck before.”
I blush—against my willagain—and look away. “You don’t have to keep pretending, Kai.”
“What if I don’t want to stop?” He grasps my jaw, cradling it tenderly and stroking my cheek with his thumb. “What if, instead, I want this…”
He rests his hands on my waist and pulls me into him, wrapping his warm arms around me tightly. I peer up at him, my lips parting in surprise. As my lips part, he runs his fingers up my back until they reach my front, landing on my parted lips. A traitorous breath escapes me as his eyes fixate on my lips.
He lifts his eyes to meet mine, then gazes down at me with a knowing glance. Closing his eyes, he lowers his head toward mine until our foreheads meet.
We stand there for a while—foreheads pressed against each other, stars twinkling in the periwinkle sky all around us. Eventually, I give in just a bit and wrap my arms around his neck. Holding him like this just clicks. It’s natural. It’s odd, but it’s as though I’m following the tide instead of swimming against it for the first time in decades.
He releases a long exhale and lifts his head slowly.
Then, with another breath, he places a tender kiss on my forehead.
His lips are soft—unbelievably soft.
Fifteen
Kai
Similar to my lips, my hands move of their own accord. One cupping the back of her neck and the other clutching on to her slim waist, gently grazing her wings.
In this moment, I want nothing more than to lift her off her nimble feet and wrap her body around mine.
Suddenly, she pulls away, staring at me with an odd mixture of sheer delight and wariness in her eyes. Taken aback for a second, I stroke her face and take great pleasure in the hint of pink spreading across her cheeks.
“I think I’ve had enough of our game for tonight. I should head home,” she says, nodding to herself. I may be delusional, but it appears she’s convincing herself that going home would be for the best. She takes a step back, turning toward the rooftop’s edge, presumably to launch back into the air and fly away. “Thank you for tonight, Kai. I had fun.”
Fuck. I shouldn’t have done that. I misread her.
Puzzled, I tilt my head and realize the last thing I want is for her to leave. I catch up with her, stepping between her and the golden railing. “Wait. Stay with me.”
Her eyes beam into mine, laced with uncertainty—odd, considering the Cleo I’ve grown to know is always so self-assured. “Why?”
