Page 161 of Once Upon a Fable

“You’re really pretty.” His free hand came up to twist a lock of my hair, his knuckles kissing my cheek. “Want to go out with me? Once my arm is better? We can go swimming at my favorite lake.”

Despite the fire in my cheek from his touch and the constant tingle in my blood from being so close to him, I forced pragmatism to focus on the pieces of his past. He’d given me his name. If he gave me the town where he lived, then perhaps, I could find his family. Maybe, after years of being alone, he could go home.

“Where is your favorite lake?” I whispered as he pulled my hair, tugging me closer to him.

His eyes lit up, remembering something I couldn’t see, but then they clouded, and he shook his head. “I-I don’t remember.”

“Was it somewhere hot all year round, or did you ice skate on the lake in winter?”

His face grew darker, his forehead knotting with stress. “I-I don’t know. I—” He squeezed his eyes shut. “Why don’t I know? It’s-it’s...nothing is straight in my head. It’s all jumbled and—” His eyes shot wide, flickering with horror. “Where is everyone? I...I had a family. Wes and—” He tapped his temple as if trying to dislodge more. “God, what were their names? Who areyou?”

Worry replaced the softness of before, making me backpedal. “I’m your friend, remember? Don’t worry about anything else. Just focus on us, that’s all.” Cupping his cheek, I ran my thumb over the soft skin above his scruff. “I’m Gem, and you’re Kas, and everything is okay now that we’re together.”

He exhaled hard.

It was as if the evil trying to snatch him back receded, leaving him empty and quiet. Entirely willing to let me protect him. “Okay. I’ll just focus on you.” Swaying forward, he bumped his forehead against mine. “I really, really like you, Gem.” His chin moved, and his mouth fastened over mine.

I froze for the third time.

He sucked in a breath.

Our eyes stayed locked as if he was as shocked as me that he’d kissed me.

I waited for him to pull away. To act shy and blush again.

Instead, his lips moved over mine, hesitantly and softly. His eyes drifted closed, and he pulled me closer with the lock of my hair.

Pull away, Gem.

Stop.

I fell into him.

I parted my lips and trembled as the tip of his tongue tasted me.

As far as kisses went, this was the sweetest I’d ever had. Sweeter than my first stumbling when I was fourteen. Sweeter than my ex-boyfriend or any other kiss with Kas before.

This man had kissed me full of violence and aggression. It’d been messy and barbaric and resorted to us rolling around in the mud like beasts.

But this?

This was delicate and exquisite, full of innocent passion and everlasting care.

He moaned under his breath as I touched his tongue with mine. A tiny lick of welcome.

His fingers moved from my hair to my cheek, his palm burning me as he deepened the kiss. Our mouths parted in unison, our tongues connecting in a dance. His heartbeat drummed in his fingertips, soaking through my cheek to my own drumming pulse.

His head tilted to the other side, the choreography between us unhurried and indulgent. Deepening then retreating, kissing and learning.

Our breathing synchronized as everything inside me went heavy.

Inhale and lick.

Exhale and kiss.

His lips and tongue were hypnotic.

The connection between us tangled tighter.