Page 131 of The Fifth Heir

He had given me every chance to say no. Now he gave me the space to be fearless without making me prove I was.

The descent lasted too little time.

He circled once over the tower, then folded part of his wings and dropped toward the garden. My stomach rose. I pressed against him, half laughing and half terrified.

His wings opened before I could protest.

We landed hard enough to bend the grass but not enough to jar my injured shoulder.

Rafe lowered himself.

Torren reached us first and unfastened the safety line. Leander began listing every condition Rafe had violated before my feet touched the ground.

I barely heard him.

My legs shook when Torren helped me down. I stood with one hand against Rafe’s shoulder, waiting for the garden to stop moving beneath me.

“You all right?” Torren asked.

“Yes.”

The answer came breathlessly.

Rafe shifted.

Wind surrounded him. His dragon body contracted in one smooth rush, scales becoming skin and wings disappearing as his human form returned. His clothing reappeared with him, his silver-gray shirt open at the throat exactly as it had been before.

He stood close enough that my hand now rested against his chest.

Neither of us moved.

The kiss formed as a decision before I acted on it. Not payment for the flight. Not gratitude for the garden. I wanted the man who had trusted me on his back, guarded my first fragile moment of freedom, and asked six times whether I still chose it.

“Well?” he asked.

I kissed him.

Rafe went completely still.

My mouth touched his once, brief and uncertain. I started to pull away.

His hand rose to my face but stopped beside my cheek.

“Again?” he asked.

The question was quiet.

No joke. No smug reminder that I had kissed him first.

I closed the distance.

This kiss lasted longer.

His fingers slid into my hair while his other hand settled lightly at my waist, avoiding the harness buckles. He let me set the pressure and angle. When I opened my mouth, he followed without taking control.

Heat moved through me faster than fear had during the flight.

The garden runes turned red.