Page 20 of Fly's Path

Why did those words make my knees weak? “Only if you want me to. Consent is a real thing, even for guys.”

“Hmm…you or the scary horde? That is a hard decision.”

Whatever. It was a stupid idea. I turn to walk away, and a hand snakes around my waist, twisting me around like some fancy dancer until I’m eye to eye with a total stranger.

“I choose you.”

WHAT?

“Please provide me with protection.”

“You think you’re funny.”

“I am. And you’re cute over there squirming. You didn’t expect me to say yes, did you?”

Expect? I had no idea I was even going to suggest it. “No.”

“You can always walk away and leave me to the wolves.” His lips tip up into a lopsided grin.

“They are very scary.”

He pulls me in even closer.

“There’s only one problem.” Other than the fact that I want to both kiss him and run away at the same time. There’s also his hand burning through the clothes at my waist…I should have an alien who sets fire to clothes just by touching them…That would be spicy.

“And problems make you laugh to yourself.”

How do I explain the inexplicable? “My grandmother gave me a rule once when I was a teenager, and I’ve lived by that rule my entire life.” That might be because the only boy I almost kissed turned out to be a jerk, but this guy doesn’t need to know that.

“Grandmothers can make some interesting rules.”

“She told me never to kiss a boy if I didn’t know his name.”

He slides his hand farther around my back and pulls me closer so that I can feel every breath he takes. “My friends call me Fly.”

“But that isn’t your real name.”

“It’s more real than any other name.”

There’s pain in his voice. His name is tied to a story. One he isn’t going to share with a random stranger.

“Is that good enough for your grandmother? Or shall I face the firing squad?”

Would it be? “No. She’d completely disapprove. But I don’t care. It’s nice to meet you, Fly.”

He tips his head to the side and stares at me for a long moment. “Are you going to tell me your name, or are you the type of girl to kiss and run?”

Hmm. “I think I might be.”

“Good to know.” His other hand moves to my face.

“We should probably get this done before my friends come looking for me.” Or I lose my nerve and run away. That’s sounding like a better idea with every second that passes.

“I’m ready to be saved when you are.”

“Make sure when you tell the tale of the kiss that saved your life, it gets bigger with each retelling.”

“Noted. By the time the story gets around, you’ll be a princess from a foreign land who came in search of her prince only to find me and save me with her kiss. I’ll make sure it’s a passionate one that would never be forgotten.”