Page 98 of Forbidden to Fall

“A for effort,” I said over the sound of the rain.

He promptly removed his hands, making it clear that they had been providing protection.

“Hey!” I protested, using one of my own hands to shield myself as I shot him an ungrateful look.

There was a playful look under his dark lashes, which clung together from the rain running down his face in little rivulets. His hair was soaked, piecing together, as black as the woods on the night of our campout.

My heart skipped at the memory of that night.

“Gah!” I said in frustration as the key eluded me.

He grabbed the hand I was using to shield myself.

“What’re you⁠—”

He pulled me away from the awning’s shoddy cover and into the pounding rain.

I resisted, but I was no match for his force, and my efforts weren’t genuine.

Jogging backward with a smile on his lips, he pulled me until we were in the middle of the street. Raindrops danced around us on the pavement, sending smaller drops into the air on contact, like tiny water fireworks.

Holding our hands up, he spun me around, the white of his teeth in contrast to the dark everywhere else—the skies, the street, his eyes. His gray shirt clung to his body like it might wash away if it didn’t hold onto him for dear life.

I twirled around, laughing and shivering all at once, the cold of every raindrop bringing my body to life.

His hand gave another yank, and I stumbled toward him, laughing as I barreled into him. His hand caught me at my back while mine splayed against the wet shirt at his chest.

Our gazes met, and the laugh on my lips and the smile on his began to fade like chalk in the rain.

The look in his eyes sent a shock gliding along my veins as his gaze searched mine, growing darker and more intense before lowering to my lips. The fingertips of his hand pressed into the small of my back, and mine grasped responsively at his chest.

He lowered his head until his forehead met mine, and I closed my eyes, forcing myself to breathe, waiting for his lips.

James’s other hand joined the one at my waist, gripping me tighter than ever, pressing our rain-soaked bodies together.

And then…he let go.

I opened my eyes as he stepped back, his hands dropping from me completely.

I stared at him, my heart pounding harder and louder than the rain. I’d never felt so deprived, so cheated.

“I’m sorry.” His throat bobbed. “I shouldn’t have…”

He didn’t finish, but I didn’t care.

I grabbed his hand, drew him toward me, then wrapped my hand around his neck and pulled his lips to mine.

A part of me was afraid he’d reject me, but his hands came to my cheeks, anchoring our mouths like he’d been ready for this. Hoping for it.

Our lips, cold and wet from the rain, pressed and explored, warming with every contact until a shiver of pleasure ran through me.

James pulled back, his lashes wet and fluttering as raindrops pelted us mercilessly. He kissed me again, then dropped his hands from my cheeks and threaded his fingers through mine.

Breathless, I let myself be led out of the street and toward the little awning.

We looked up at it, then at each other, our laughter drowned in the rain.

Without a word, I opened the door to Keller’s and pulled him inside.