Page 75 of Fallen Flame

We sat like that for several quiet minutes. She had to process what she had been through, and I was going to be there for however long it took.

In true Lark fashion, she was able to move on to the next moment.

“So...” she murmured.

“Hmm?”

“I think...”

She leaned back just enough to look up at me. “...a kiss from Oliver might make things a little better.”

One eyebrow lifted. “Oh yeah?”

She nodded.

“I’ve heard they’re very therapeutic.”

A smile tugged at my mouth. “Is that right?”

“Medical fact.” She shifted in my arms until we were face-to-face. Her fingertips brushed my cheek before slowly tracing my jaw. “I’d like to test the theory.”

“I’m willing to participate in the study.”

She laughed softly.

Then she closed the distance. Our lips met gently at first.

Slow and unhurried.

The kind of kiss that didn’t need to prove anything.

Her fingers slipped into the hair at the back of my neck, and I cupped her face, deepening the kiss as she melted closer.

She tasted faintly of lime and salt from the margaritas.

I smiled against her mouth. “What?”

“You smiled.”

“You noticed.”

“I notice everything about you, Ollie.”

“Liar.”

She laughed into another kiss.

This one lingered longer.

Neither of us were in any hurry to pull away.

When we finally did, our foreheads rested together.

“I feel a little better,” she whispered.

“I’m glad.”

She searched my face for a second. “Will you stay tonight?”