“If you insist.”
Elodie makes her way across the tent. I reach the door first and swing the flap aside for her. In a few short steps we stand at her doorway. She moves to enter, but I gently grasp her arm. She pauses and turns toward me.
“You make me question everything.”
A wrinkle appears between her furred brow bones. “What do you mean?”
“Our friendship is the most important thing to me aside from Gannen. But,” I pause to gather my thoughts. “But there are moments when you look at me, and I sense perhaps…more. I do not know what to think or if perhaps I am only seeing what I wish.”
Elodie sighs and drops her head forward. “I know, and I’m sorry.”
“I need you to explain it to me.” I lift her chin so our eyes meet. “Please.”
Chapter 20
Elodie
Throughout the whole evening meal all I could think about was my conversation with Iris and her parting words. So, I thought I’d try flirting with Ortak. Just a little. Except, all I did was apparently confuse him. He’s not human. The Krijese culture is so far removed from a human’s, it’s no wonder he had no idea what I was doing.
Fear that I might ruin what we have is why I spent the rest of the evening trying to be “normal”. To act like I usually do. Like Ortak’s friend. I’m not sure that’s all I want any longer though.
I stare into his black eyes, trying to read them. To find a single hint that he might want more too. But all I see is his dark gaze staring back at me.
“Fight for it.”Iris’s words replay in my head.
Might as well splay my chest open and hope Ortak doesn’t rip my heart out of it. “I want you to kiss me. Will you?”
His whole body tenses. Weirdly, for a single second, I almost swear a tiny spark of color flashes in his eyes. The silence drags and with each moment that passes the more I regret asking.
“I do not know how,” Ortak finally rasps out in his deep guttural voice that vibrates through me like it always does.
My heart races. “Would you like me to show you?” I’m not sure we can go back after this.
“Aye.”
Since he’s a little far out of my reach, I palm the back of his neck and draw him down to me at the same time I rise up on my tippy toe. It’s not as easy to do on one leg. Ortak must realize this, because his hands go around my waist to steady me. I ignore the sound of my crutches crashing to the ground.
My free hand goes to his chest where his hearts beat a strong rhythm beneath it. Mine, in total contrast, beats almost too fast as Ortak moves closer, until finally, my mouth brushes over his. I don’t part my lips, but rather, keep the kiss simple. It’s nothing more than a soft caress, but a powerful one. My whole body lights up like a surge of electricity is running through me.
Slowly, I pull back and meet his gaze. “Was that okay?”
“I have no words to describe it.”
I bite the inside of my bottom lip. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
Ortak lifts one hand from my waist and cups the side of my head. “It is the best thing.”
An awkward laugh bubbles out of me and my neck gets hot. “Oh.”
He scans my face. “What does this mean for us?”
That is the same question I’ve been asking myself. “I don’t know. I guess it means maybe we’re not just friends.”
Ortak studies me long enough that I get twitchy. Finally, he says something. “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”
I smack my forehead against his chest and try to hold back my laughter. My shoulders shake with it. When I get my amusement under control I lift my head. “It is the best thing. At least, I hope it is. I want it to be.”
“I want it to be as well.”
