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does have a point there. I never think about it in those terms.
"No one has to die."
"Which means it's pretty bad. You can't not tell me now."
I'm very aware that the two of us are just standing in the middle of the library, not wanting to break first and go do something somewhere else. At least we have the privacy here of saying and doing what we want.
My gaze darts to his lips, and then away again. I can't think about things like kissing him. That'll confuse things for me more, and I'm not ready for that.
At least, that's what I keep telling myself. It could just be a lie I'm using to justify a few things, though.
"It's black magic," I admit.
"Is that all?" Ryan laughs. "It's not that bad, Mona. I know loads of people who've done it."
"You do?" Daphne's never mentioned him being mixed up with the wrong sort, so it seems unlikely that he's done or seen anything too bad. In theory.
"Yes. Some by accident, but more than one did it on purpose. I've never done it myself. I've never had a reason to." He reaches out and brushes a lock of hair away from my face. "Do I now?"
"What do you mean?" My whole body shakes but I don't pull away. I'm not sure I could if I tried. He has me captivated in a way I never thought was possible.
Instead of answering, Ryan leans in and presses his lips against mine. At first, it takes me by surprise. But the moment I relax, it's magical. His arm slips around me, pulling me closer and deepening the kiss. His lips are soft, supple, warm, everything I want them to be. The fact he's my best friend's brother is pushed out of my mind. There's no chance he sees me as nothing more than Daphne's friend with the way he's kissing me now.
We break apart, both of us breathing heavily.
I lift my fingers to my lips, pressing them there and feeling the echo of his kiss.
"I guess you have to go on a date with me now," Ryan jokes.
"Because you agreed to do black magic for me?" It feels wrong to agree to a date in exchange for something so morally questionable.
"Of course not. I'd have said yes to that no matter what happens between us. I mean because of that kiss."
"Oh. Then I guess we do need to."
"Friday night at eight? There's a funfair in town? We can go do the bumper cars and get candy floss?" he suggests.
"I prefer ice cream." I kiss him on the cheek, hopefully showing that I'm just joking.
Life has a strange way of throwing me curve balls at the moment. I'm not sure how I'm in a secret library kissing Ryan and plotting to do illegal things. It's probably not something I'll be writing home to tell my parents about.
"Then we'll get ice cream. So long as it has sprinkles, and a flake.
"That sounds perfect to me," I admit. "I'm looking forward to it."
"Me too."
"And Ryan?"
"Yes, Mona." He hasn't moved, his arms still around me and his body close to mine.
"Thank you. For not just letting me run off right then."
"You're welcome. It would have been fairly remiss of me to let you."
I chuckle. "Maybe. But thank you all the same."
Chapter Eleven
