“That may be so, but perhaps I hatedyou.” Her words wavered as he stepped nearer.
He put his hand under her chin, tilting her head up. “No, I don’t believe you did.”
“You do not know my feelings. It is possible you were overconfident to ask me to meet you here tonight.”
“I believe I know exactly what you are feeling. Do you not remember what happened only yesterday?”
Her eyes instantly dropped to his lips.
“Yes,” he said. “It seems you do.”
“This is madness,” she whispered.
“Nonsense.” His thumb caressed her jawline as he grinned. “The mistletoe requires it.”
“What?” She tilted her head back, looking above them. She gasped as she found the mistletoe just above them. “How did that get there?”
“I am very good at such things, remember? But, truthfully, even if it weren’t there, all I would be able to think about at this moment is how much I want to kiss those lips that keep throwing insults my way.”
She looked back down at him, her breathing shallow. “So, what are you waiting for?”
He smiled, slipping his hand around her neck, leaning in and pressing his lips against hers. They both paused—as if silently acknowledging that their relationship had shifted and would never be the same. Owen used his hand to tilt Leah’s face, bringing them closer and allowing their lips to settle more comfortably.
He couldn’t make sense of it all. Only five days ago they were bickering and now they were kissing in the hall by the light of the moon and one small taper that constantly flickered—like it was too small and was fighting to stay lit. But fire could grow, just as it seemed to do between Leah and Owen the last few days. What may have started as a fire of anger, grew and consumed until they were only left with the truth.
They were meant for each other.
That became more and more clear to him as their lips caressed each other, moving slowly but with a fire he had never experienced before. It was as if his stomach was in his chest and his heart would burst if they stopped.
Owen felt a small jerk, realizing they had pushed themselves against the wall. “I’m sorry,” he whispered against her lips.
She pulled back just enough to speak. “I’m not.” Then her lips crashed back to his, her hands running along his shoulders until they seemed to find solace, intertwining into his hair. His eyes rolled behind his lids and he took her waist in his hands. He hooked one arm around her middle, using the other hand to hold him steady against the wall. Could kissing someone make them drunk? For if so, that was certainly what he was experiencing. The darkness behind his lids seemed to swirl, with random bursts of light flashing whenever Leah’s lips moved against his. His head felt heavy, his neck hot and his heart was racing away.
Leah’s hands came to his cheeks, cradling his face and gently pulling him back. Owen wanted to protest, but something about the look in her eye made him pause.
“What is the matter?” His eyes flitted between hers, concern filling his chest.
She swallowed, letting her hands fall. “This is all so sudden. What if it isn’t real? What if we are only caught up in the moment?”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. He reached up, twirling one of her now frazzled curls around his finger to restore it to its former neat and tidy ringlet. “We have known each other much longer than five days, Leah. I know you better than any other girl of my acquaintance.”
“But not like this. We were always at each other’s throats.”
As she said it, he pressed his nose to the tender skin of her neck, giving her a soft kiss.
“Not like that,” she breathed, chuckling and pushing him back.
He shrugged, keeping his hands wrapped about her. “We have both matured. I don’t find it so very strange.”
“I just . . .” She stopped.
His gaze washed over her face, trying to read her feelings. And what he found there made his heart heavy. “Are you saying you want me to step back?”
“I’m saying we need more time.” She placed a hand against his chest. “And with you leaving tomorrow, we will be able to see if this is real. If we cannot bear to be apart, then we will know it is not something we imagined. But if we forget . . .” She trailed off, not finishing the thought. She knew he would be able to fill in the empty void she left.
“I don’t like it.”
Leah laughed, her smile lighting up her face before sobering. “I think it is for the best.”
