Rowan watches me approach, standing unnaturally still, like a watchful predator. Maybe it’s a habit from his owl days—or maybe he’s about to snatch me around the waist, pushme against the refrigerator, and kiss me exactly like I’ve been hoping.
A girl can dream, right?
“What about it?” he asks.
I clear my throat, avoiding his eyes. “The damage is already done—we’ve already made our friendship potentially awkward. If breaking our fused magic takes away these feelings?—”
“Yourfeelings. Mine aren’t in question.”
Feeling bold, I lift my eyes to his. “It’s unfair of you to assume mine are any less real than yours.”
His smile becomes crooked. “You know, you’re rather adorable, Kit.”
“And your Neilfellow arrogance is showing. Hush so I can talk.”
Chuckling, he makes a show of pressing his lips together. It’s incredibly difficult to contain my magic when he looks at me with that much affection.
“Anyway,” I say, hoping to keep my tone businesslike. “I think you’ll agree that the physical relationship boundaries you’ve established don’t make a lot of sense at this point.”
He pushes away from the counter and walks toward me. When he’s so close I must look up, he pinches the short sleeve of my summer dress between his thumb and forefinger, thoughtfully rubbing the thin jersey fabric between them. “I hope you’re aware I didn’t suggest we keep our distance because I don’t want to kiss you again.” He gives my sleeve the gentlest tug. “Because I do. Very much.”
My magic slips. I gulp as I try to catch it, but it’s too late. Rowan’s lips twitch, his smile deepening as his gray eyes slit with pleasure.
“Go ahead then,” I say, certain the bond is making me brave. “You know I won’t stop you.”
“As soon as I break the bond, we will revisit a physical relationship—as long as it’s something you still desire.”
“I’m going to need you to get on that.”
He smiles, laughing softly. “I already have.”
My eyes widen, and I grasp his arm. “You’ve figured out how to sever our magic?”
“No.” His eyes move to my hand. “But I’m working on it. First, I need to figure out why our magic fused in the first place.”
“Maybe your magic just really liked my magic.”
“So it claimed you? Like a greedy toddler?”
I smile, distracted by the feel of Rowan’s firm arm under the fabric of his shirt sleeve. “Or maybe we’re looking at this all wrong. Perhaps it wasn’t your magic that was the instigator, but mine. Maybe you are my shiny toy.”
He bites back a smirk. “I cannot respond to that without getting myself into trouble.”
“I want to set a deadline.”
“A deadline?”
“A set amount of time that you may use to attempt to untangle our magic.”
“What happens if I can’t accomplish it?”
“Then we must accept our fate.”
“But it’s not fair to you?—”
“And you’re the only one who cares about that.” I search his face. “You do want me, Rowan? Don’t you?”
His eyes soften. So earnestly my heart warms, he says, “So much.”
