“What kind of things?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Anything.”
I considered my answer. Witches generally believed everything had an equilibrium. Nature liked symmetry and did everything in its power to maintain it. It was why magic wasn’t endless or all capable.
“Maybe. I think everything requires balance.”
He turned to me then. “Do you think we ended up here for a reason?” he asked.
It felt like a silly question, but he looked serious.
“The reason being a hookup that got caught on camera?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No. Like… we were meant to meet.”
“I couldn’t tell you,” I said.
He pointed above us. I followed his gaze to the mistletoe above us, hanging from the center of the gazebo.
Ellery was even closer now, only inches away. “Do you think we were meant to end up here? Like this?” he asked.
There were layers to that question I couldn’t separate right now. I didn’twantto separate them right now. I wanted to believe him.
“Maybe,” I said, my voice shaking slightly.
He leaned in even closer. His warmth invading my space. Rich cologne filled my lungs.
“If you don’t think so, tell me.”
I knew what he was really saying. If I wanted him to back away, he would.
“I think so,” I said finally.
I wasn’t sure who leaned in first, but when our lips touched it was like the world stopped spinning. Everything was as frozen as the icicles dangling around us.
Ellery
She tasted justas good as I thought she would.
It was as if this kiss unlocked a part of my brain I didn’t know was there. I kissed her again, then again, neither of us moving away from the other.
I ran my tongue across her lips, waiting for her to let me in. She opened for me, letting me explore her further. I wanted to learn every part of Juniper Thistlerose. I wanted to learn everything that made her tick. Kissing her was like breathing fresh air after being deprived for years. It was as if the magic of mistletoe had done its job and brought us to this place together.
She tasted sweet and fruity like the macaroons we’d eaten and I wanted to eat her whole.
Juniper pulled away breathless before I was ready. Though I’d always liked kissing, I more thanlikedkissing her.
She leaned her forehead against mine, taking deep breaths. I let her catch her balance. I understood how she felt. It was as if the world was spinning differently, and I could feel it.
“Want to go back?” I asked.
“Yes.”
***
As soon as we stepped back into the hotel room we were on each other. Fingers tangled in each other’s hair. Kisses so intense we bumped our teeth once, which made us both laugh. I pressed her to the wall next to the door, unable to make it much farther.
I slid my hands under her legs and lifted, wrapping her thighs around my middle and holding her against me. I needed to feel more of her. My mouth stayed pressed to hers and I ran my hand over her tit. It was concealed with a bra, but I could just barely feel the piercings beneath the fabric.
