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I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

Because being this close to him, I knew I was standing on the edge of something, and I was about to jump in.

His gaze dropped again – slow and deliberate – and this time I didn’t pretend not to notice.

‘You’re not saying it, Harri,’ he murmured. ‘Tell me I’m wrong,’ he repeated.

I gulped, feeling myself hesitate.

‘Why can’t you say I’m wrong about there being a next time?’ He moved forward, pushing a hair back from my face.

I swallowed. ‘Because . . .’ But I had nothing left to say; my brain had forgotten how to speak full sentences.

A faint smile brushed over his mouth, and his hand tightened a fraction around mine.

‘You’re trouble,’ he murmured.

I let out a shaky breath. ‘No. You started this!’

‘Aye,’ he said. ‘But I suppose it’s up to you how it finishes.’

God.

The lights overhead flickered in the wind, casting everything in gold – soft and unreal. Somewhere in the middle of the market, a choir had started up, unpolished and off-key, but loud enough to fill the space around us. It should’ve ruined the moment, but it didn’t. If anything, it intensified it even more. Because suddenly it felt like we were standing in the middle of something big and stupid and cinematic, and I was about to do something I absolutely couldn’t take back.

‘You can tell me to stop,’ he said again, quieter this time. ‘I know what you have going on just now, and I don’t want to add to that.’

I looked at him. Really looked. Fuck, he cares, I thought, and I’ve never really had that before.

I stepped closer. His breath caught. My hand came up, reaching for his coat as I pulled him down to close the last inch between us and kissed him.

He made a gentle sound against my mouth and then his hand was on my jaw, thumb pressing lightly under my chin as he kissed me back.

And holy fuck.

The noise of the market blurred – music, voices, someone laughing too loudly – and it all dropped away until it was just him and the heat of his hand on my face. I felt myself sinking into the way he tilted his head slightly, like he was taking his time now.

My vagina pulsated, drumming like it was providing the backing music for the choir. My grip on his coat tightened, pulling him closer without even meaning to. He didn’t resist.

I broke away first, my forehead brushing his as I pulled back.

‘Oh my God,’ I said under my breath, giggling almost.

He huffed a quiet laugh. ‘Yup,’ he breathed.

I opened my eyes. He was still looking at me like that.

‘Right,’ I said, trying and failing to sound normal. ‘That was—’

‘—some kiss?’ he offered.

‘It was.’ I nodded before he’d even finished. ‘And I don’t think I’m quite done yet.’

‘Thank fuck for that. Come here.’ He pulled me back in, his tongue more aggressive, wrapping around mine, his hand sliding into my hair.

This was what I’d been missing my entire life. The passion, the heat, the undeniable pull towards someone, and I couldn’t quite believe that all this time he’d been back home in the Gorbals.

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