He cut off as my fingers covered his lips, eyes widening like he couldn’t believe I’d dared. I couldn’t quite believe it either.
I pulled them back, hand tingling.
Chewing on my lip, I shook my head. “Listen...”
He held my gaze.
Just say it.
“I was wrong.”
The soft rays of sun from the skylight above trickled down, shifting over the oddly vulnerable expression on his face. “Thank you for saying that.”
Out of words, I nodded.
He’d said telling someone “thank you” meant you owed them... and then he’d done it anyway. Was that on purpose? Why would he trust me like that?
He reached up to gently tug on my chin until I stopped biting my lip.
Instead of letting go, though, he slowly traced my bottom lip with his thumb.
My lips parted.
I couldn’t breathe.
He waited for me to pull back, clearly expecting me to draw the same harsh lines between us as before, but I didn’t.
Instead, I unconsciously, ever so slightly, leaned in.
His eyes widened. Leaning forward too, achingly slow, he lowered his head until less than an inch separated us. Then he stopped, searching my face with a question on his own.
I tilted my chin up in answer.
His hand came up to my cheek to reverently trace my currently very human face, and then he closed the distance.
The soft brush of his lips on mine made my eyes flutter closed.
I smiled as he pulled back, but it faded when I remembered my family. How could I forget them for even a second? With a hard swallow, I stepped back, trying to shake off the lingering desire to do that again.
“I’m sorry—” he began, concern wrinkling his brow.
“No, don’t.” I stopped him from apologizing for the kiss that still distracted me. “I just... I can’t right now when my family might be in trouble or hurt.”
“Of course,” he murmured. “I understand.” Straightening, he cleared his throat and turned to his writing desk. “I supposed we should consider what we know so far.”
He opened a drawer and pulled out his logbook, then rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, revealing strong forearms.
When he turned back, I blushed, caught staring.
Soren pulled out the desk chair to sit, while I returned to the edge of the bed. “I remember the fae who took your father and sisters, but let me confirm to be sure.” He opened the book and flipped through the pages until he found the right one. “As I recalled. There were two.” He glanced up. “Can you describe which of the two actually signed the deal with your family?”
“Yeah,” I agreed eagerly, but instead of describing the pale fae with thin wings that looked like bubbles when they caught the light, I accidentally let myself think of the difference between her and the first fae who’d taken Mom, and said, “I can also describe kissing you if you’d like.”
I flushed hot and covered my face with my hands. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that. It’s a thing that happens when—” I cut off just before it happened again.
He grinned but thankfully didn’t make me wallow in the embarrassment. “It’s all right. I recognize the magic.”
When he paused, I peeked at him, surprised that he’d turned a little red also.
