“Why haven’t you kissed me yet?” I blurt out.
Will blinks, stunned.
I can’t stop the words from tumbling.
“That day we found Merit, I thought you were going to kiss me. Then in the Lunarie grove that night, and when you took me home,it was perfect and, even just earlier today in the stable I thought—Actually, I don’t know what to think and it’s tearing me up not knowing. When I thought you’d— When I thought I’d lost you, I was terrified and, well, now that we survived and we’re okay, I just—It’s something I’ve been thinking about, a lot. Since we met, actually. I think about you. A lot. Um.”
I take a breath.
Fuck.
I hate telling the truth when it’s so clunky. I’d planned this out. I wasn’t supposed to say it like this. I’ve ruined this for sure. The silence stretches and Will doesn’t move and when I can’t take it any longer, I drop his hand.Okay, never mind, forget it,I want to say. But I can’t. I whip around as the heat of embarrassment burns my face. It’s a frustrating truth to know that I was a fool to hope so freely. I suppose he did tell me to leave. I didn’t think he was being serious. I thought—
“Fliss.”
It comes out so sober, so gentle, that I halt.
Will takes my elbow and turns me back around. His eyes are golden in the candlelight, and they flicker with a vulnerability that squeezes my chest tight.
“Fliss, it’s not easy for me to…” His eyes dance across my face. “There’s so much we haven’t talked about. So muchIhaven’t talked about. And I learned my lesson. The one time I decided to be selfish was the morning I almost killed you. I’m not risking a repeat. I willnotbe the reason you get hurt again.”
“You…you were coming for me?”
“Yeah. And instead, I put a sword through your stomach. As things go, not a great turn of events.”
Hope blooms behind my ribs.
“It was an accident,” I insist. “I willingly put myself at risk and the sword appeared in your hand at the exact moment I reached you. There was no time to avoid it. Don’t forget that you alsosavedmy life. I needed your mum’s help, and you got me here in time. There’s nothing to forgive.” I reach up and cup his jaw. “Please. Believe me.”
Under my palm, his skin is soft and warm, and when I move my thumb against his cheek, he leans against it and closes his eyes, seemingly fighting an internal decision. Finally, with a deep breath like he’s about to dive into water, he grabs my waist.
“Oh, fuck it,” Will says, and tugs me flush against him. I squeak and grab the collar of his shirt. His eyes flare in panic that he might have hurt me, but I shake my head adamantly at the worry and rise up on my toes. Closer. I need to be closer.
His voice is a soft breeze, inches away from my mouth. “Those times you mentioned…Did you want me to kiss you?”
“You know I can only tell you the truth.”
“How about now?” he asks, and walks me backward.
He presses me against a bookshelf, and I let him, melted like candle wax in his grip. My heart is a thundering mess. I’m dizzy, unable to think straight, breathe right, let alone reply to his question. He has me captured and he knows it.
“If I kiss you, that’ll be it for me,” Will whispers. I lick my lips. “It’ll be all I want. There’ll be no going back. I’ve wanted to kiss you more times than I can count. Lain awake on sleepless nights consumed by it. You were everywhere I went and running through my dreams as if I’d willed you into existence myself. Gods, Fliss, of course I want you.”
His confession floods through me like a winter downpour. Hewasholding back. He likes me. He wants me. Like the first kindling of a bonfire, I switch from silent pining to a satisfied triumph that I’ve been right this whole time.
“Then do it,” I dare him, and lift my chin.
His hands shoot up to catch mine and pin them against the books on either side of my head. But it’s my turn to take revenge for his holding out on me. It’s my turn to play. Will lingers in that in-between, his eyes on my lips and hitched, heavy breathing. He can’t resist for much longer. It’s a marvel that I can have that effect on someone. On him.
“What are you waiting for?” I tease as his fingers intertwine withmine and hold me firmly against the book spines. Will nudges my nose and I grin. He’s seconds from caving. I lower my voice. “You’re hot when you’re desperate. Like in the dungeon. Fliss, please. Fliss, stay with me. Fliss, don’t leave me. Begging. I want you tobegfor me.”
My words do the trick. He growls and grabs my jaw. There’s a split second when our eyes meet, both alight with challenge.
“Trust me,” Will says, “you’ll be the one begging when I’m done with you.”
He kisses me. It’s urgent and determined, desperate. Exactly what I want. I grasp the waves of his hair and surge against him, kissing him back with just as much fervor. Gods,finally.
Everything else disappears. There’s only Will and his mouth on mine and pleasure humming in my veins. His tongue brazenly sweeps against mine and I reel. I’d be swaying if it weren’t for the bookshelf and Will’s body keeping me upright. I’m completely tangled in him, overwhelmed by the gods damned taste of him. His hands skim the curve of my backside, and I can’t help the gasp that escapes me.
