Page 309 of Every Almost

Reyna shook her head.

“Has it ever before?”

Reyna pulled away to look at Charlie. "No."

Charlie waited for the part of her that should’ve wanted to stop and understand, to ask Reyna seventeen questions about physiology and neural pathways and whether shared sensation between species required immediate medical supervision.

But it didn't. There was only Reyna’s breath breaking against her lips, only the rose brightening beneath Charlie’s hand, only the extraordinary fact that Reyna had never felt this before.

Charlie touched the marking above her heart.

“Tell me if it becomes too much."

“It won't” Reyna whispered.

“You answered very quickly?—”

“Because it won't."

Charlie’s thumb moved slowly through the light and Reyna gasped, her entire body tightening against Charlie and bowing as Charlie felt the touch move through her a heartbeat later.

“That looked like a lot,” Charlie whispered.

“It was.”

Charlie’s hand immediately stilled, but then Reyna caught her wrist before she could draw it away completely, looking into Charlie's eyes.

“But I didn’t say it was too much.”

Charlie turned her hand beneath Reyna’s and linked their fingers.

“No,” she said softly. “You didn’t.”

Reyna kissed her again but the kiss was changed. The need was still there, pressing at the edge of every touch between them, but something deeper was with them now.

Charlie felt the pulse beneath Reyna’s hand, then inside her own chest, strong enough to draw a sharp breath from her.

Reyna felt that too.

Charlie saw the moment it reached her. The sudden wonder in her face, the way her gaze dropped to her palm.

“Charlie…”

“I know.”

Charlie kissed her, and the rose flared beneath Reyna’s palm. But this time, the sensation didn’t move from Reyna intoCharlie. It rose beneath Reyna’s hand as though Charlie’s body had answered first.

Reyna went still against her mouth and Charlie felt the exact moment she understood.

Reyna’s palm pressed more firmly over Charlie’s heart.

The rose raced across Reyna's own skin in response, climbing her arm and spilling over her shoulder in a rush of light.

Charlie felt the path it took inside herself. Not want or heat or even magic.

Just Reyna.

Reyna’s eyes had gone wide.