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Soft, full lips find me. I lean into him, into the kiss as my mouth slides over his. And everything is quiet inside me, so very still. Even my heart stops beating. In its place, a burst of light radiates from the center of my chest. The warmth of it expands until it is all of me. And within the calm that has settled over me, I can feel everything all at once. The small gasp of air he breathes into me, the fine stubble along his chin, the give of his lips and tickle of his fingers dancing along my neck. It is sensual and intense. Gentle and passionate. His kiss awakens something inside of me, and when I open my eyes, nothing looks the same.
Grant is looking at me like he's never seen me before, yet he's been searching for me for forever. Or maybe that's how I'm looking at him. And behind him, tiny stars are dancing across the field.
Wait. Maybe I got hit in the head harder than I thought.
I swivel to admire what's surrounding us. Small, flashing lights dance and swirl around the tall blades of grass.
"Fireflies," I acknowledge in awe. "I've never seen them in real life before."
"This is why I brought you here."
"Not to kiss me?" I tease.
His smile is so wide, it causes me to smile too.
"That was what I wished would happen, but the fireflies are why we're here."
I lean my head against his shoulder. Grant shuffles closer to wrap his arm around me and rest his chin on my head. It is ... magical, watching what seems like hundreds, maybe a thousand, tiny orbs flicker and flutter around us in a haphazar
d rhythm.
"Can you promise me something?"
I don't respond.
"When you feel that anger building again, if it's possible, will you call me instead of letting it take over? Maybe I can talk you down, or at least try. I didn't like seeing you get hurt, or watching you hurt someone else, even if you have an impressive swing."
I remain quiet for another second. "I can't."
"Oh, right," he recalls. "Blackwood's strict technology policies. I'm officially your tutor, so I'm on your approved call list. You can add me directly into your contacts. I may already be there actually."
I pull back to face him. "Really?"
He nods. "So, will you ... call me?"
I frown. "I can't make that promise. I'm sorry." I don't want to have to depend on someone else to help me gain control over my emotions, even my anger. I should be able to do it on my own. They're my emotions after all.
"I get it. It's okay. You haven't known me that long. I have to earn your trust still, I understand." He gives me a quick kiss. "But I like a challenge too."
I smile, recognizing my words from the other night at the library.
"I still haven't found any flaws, other than you don't know how to throw a punch."
"That's a flaw?"
I smile wide. "Even if you never hit someone, you should know how to punch. I'll teach you."
He laughs. "Great."
"So how did you find this place?" I ask, scooting close so his chest is pressed to my back. He encircles me in his arms and my body relaxes into him.
"I drive when I need to think," he says, his voice low and soothing. "And this town has plenty of windy roads to get lost on. One night, I was convinced I really was lost and pulled over to check the map on my phone. That's when I noticed this clearing. It seemed so strange to come across several acres of overgrown grass and wildflowers in the middle of the woods. But there's something about this spot that's ... magical." A warm flutter floats through me when he uses the same word to describe it. "I kept coming back to it, hoping I'd be able to share it with someone." Grant kisses the top of my shoulder, eliciting a wave of tingles down my arm. "I knew it was you that night we floated on the lake."
The beast growled in anger and lunged for the sorceress. Thaylina was still too weak to aid the sorceress as she fought the beast. She could only hear the thunderous crashes of their battle. Until there was only silence.
"Hi, Sophia?" I say slowly, but it sounds more like a question than a real greeting.
"Hi!" she chirps happily, sitting across from me on the shuttle--smoothing her skirt beneath her so it doesn't wrinkle.
