My fingers shift, brushing against her waist as that familiar need settles in my gut, even if I need to ignore it for the time being. Her shaky inhale only doubles it.
“You’re making this hard,” she whispers, unsteady while she looks up at me, looking small and perfectly mine while in my hold.
“Good,” I hum, reaching down with my other hand to brush a finger along her cheek, keeping her attention on me. “Maybe you’ll stop trying to push me away then.”
She swallows hard. “I have every reason to.”
“I know,” I tell her, lightly cupping her jaw. “But I’m still not going anywhere.”
Lila’s pulse jumps beneath my touch, and despite all of her usual refusal, her eyes soften while holding mine.
Bond or not, the air between us is charged, full of silent want.
She caves first, surging up to press her lips against mine.
It’s deeper than I expected at first, but as she melts into it, I hold her tighter against me with an arm while my thumb brushes along her cheek.
I kiss her back eagerly, but with enough restraint to keep things appropriate, catching the subtle hum from her that drives me insane.
She tastes like everything I’ve ever needed, and everything I never thought I’d have again.
Forcing myself to pull back before I can get ahead of myself, I break the kiss and lightly rest my forehead against hers. I study her features in quiet awe.
“This doesn’t fix everything,” Lila whispers, slightly out of breath.
“I don’t need everything to be fixed,” I say back, voice rougher with restraint. “I just need you here, safe and with me.”
Her gaze eases into something more receptive, and she doesn’t pull away.
Not tonight.
Chapter 21 - Lila
The solstice fire crackles high enough to spark against the dark backdrop of the woods, making the space glow along with the various lights strung up for the celebration.
It illuminates the faces of everyone in attendance, chatting and eating. Some of the kids even play with sparklers as they run or draw shapes in the air, smiles wide across their faces.
For the first time in a while, I don’t feel the weight of everyone’s eyes on me. They’re distracted, taking in the occasion gleefully.
Having Astrid there helps, and admittedly, Caleb too.
Despite her earlier shyness, Astrid moves through the crowd like a beam of sunlight, laughter bright and unguarded as she escapes from her shell.
It’s impossible not to adore her, and I can see her having the same effect on the others. Everyone melts, dispositions shifting to more pleasant ones, regardless of their opinions of me.
Because of it, I feel like I can actually breathe.
Not with complete relief, but enough for the night to feel more bearable.
Surprisingly, the solstice even managed to pull Mom out of the house, and despite some of the wary glances she receives, she keeps her head held high and talks with whoever will listen.
And, of course, the guys arrived just before dark, swooping in to raid the food tables. Dominic even tried his hand at the potato sack race, only to fall on his face a few seconds in, which made Astrid breathless with laughter.
Now, Astrid stands in front of Luke, who has both his hands out to her, with one containing a little white flower they had picked. Then, he closes both hands and switches them behind his back before returning them and making her guess which one it is.
She’s all smiles as she selects the right one, giggling when he gently pokes at her nose.
I can’t help but smile at the scene, glad to see that despite everything, she can open up to the others.
