Page 99 of UNAwere

And then there are arms around me, and I’m melting against a solid chest, breathing deep the best scent I’ve ever smelled.

‘Hey.’ Jude’s voice rumbles against my head, his mouth against my scalp. He breathes me in, too, stroking my hair behind my ears. ‘Hey, you’re okay.’

‘What have I done?’ I ask, hiccuping.

‘Something really fucking brave.’

‘Something really fudging stupid,’ I correct.

He laughs, and I feel him kiss my crown, his hold on me tightening. He’s so warm, his shirt soft. I nuzzle against him, humming.

‘You smell so good,’ I whisper. ‘Why do you smell so good?’

‘Because your body recognises,’ he murmurs.

‘Recognises what?’

‘Something you don’t.’

I lift my head from his chest and stare at him. There’s a streetlight above us and its orange glow halos his dark head. ‘What?’

‘I can’t tell you, sweetheart.’ He brushes my hair back, his thumb stroking my cheekbone. ‘You need to find that out for yourself and be certain about it.’

I frown. ‘Am I dying?’

He huffs another laugh, bending to kiss my forehead, as if he can’t help it. And I close my eyes against the feeling of his beard scraping my skin, the pressure of his warm lips.

‘No.’

‘Are you dying?’

‘Only for something I thought I’d never get.’

My heart jitters. ‘Why are you speaking in riddles?’

‘I’m not meaning to.’ He sighs against me. ‘C’mon. I’ll drive us the rest of the way.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Mm.’

I swallow, clinging to him before he can turn from me. I’m not ready to let go of him just yet.

‘Jude?’

His mouth is against my forehead again. ‘Yeah?’

‘Will… Will I be okay?’

‘Yeah, honey.’

‘Do you think I’ve made the right choice?’

‘For your people? Absolutely.’

‘For me?’

He sighs, pulling away to peer at my face. He lifts his hand, stroking his thumb across my lower lip. It pulls at it slightly, and I resist the urge to stick out my tongue and draw it into my mouth.