Page 15 of Raven

“No, I got here late too. Thought maybe I’d missed you,” I replied, easing the tension with a smile. I unhooked the spare helmet and held it out to her. “Fancy a ride?”

She hesitated, a spark igniting in her eyes as she surveyed the bike, then me. The bruise on her face had mostly faded, leaving just a cut that seemed to heal slowly—probably the silver's doing. “I’ve never been on a bike before. This is yours?”

“Yep.”

She bit her lip, contemplating. “How far is the Fell?”

"Not too far. You could walk from here if you really wanted, but it’d take a good while. It’s about a thirty-minute ride."

Her grin, with that lip caught between her teeth, was distractingly alluring. Oh, hell. My seventeen-year-old brain was in deep trouble.

She accepted the helmet, and I assisted her with securing it before she climbed onto the bike behind me. The way her thighs wrapped around mine, her arms encircling my waist, sent a rush of heat through me. Every point of contact was acutely felt, stirring butterflies within me that were hard to ignore. It was challenging to maintain my mental barriers, difficult to discern whether the emotions swirling inside me were mine alone or mingled with hers. Alongside the excitement, there was a trace of apprehension, a shadow of dread, but I dared not dwell on it.

I didn’t pick at it. That’d do me no good.

To reach the Fell, we navigated through the winding lanes, each turn revealing more of the countryside's stunning beauty. Trees stretched as far as the eye could see, encapsulating the essence of tranquillity. This reality was, without a doubt, the most splendid place on Earth. Tia’s grip tightened around me as we zigzagged through the twisting paths, her closeness a constant reminder of the journey we were on together. I could navigate these routes blindfolded; every curve, every irregularity in the path, every tree was etched in my memory. This was my sanctuary, a haven not just for me but for all of us who sought refuge.

I kicked the bike into park at the third car park, feeling like we’d spiralled up the hill on a helter-skelter. This spot, right here, was top of the world stuff—levelling out to give us a king’s view over the town sprawled below. Freedom felt more tangible up here, like you could almost grab it and stuff it in your pocket.

Tia, using my shoulder for a bit of support, hopped off the back of the bike. The move was graceful in a way, a smooth transition from passenger to explorer, ready to take in the vista that had us perched high above everything else.

Watching her remove her helmet was something else—she looked completely taken in by the spot, not even remembering to hand the helmet back immediately. "You come here all thetime to shift?" she asked, her eyes wide with amazement, her excitement nearly tangible. "I never knew there was anything like this here."

I took off my own helmet, securing it to the bike. "I make it out here now and then. It’s a bit out of the way for a quick shift, and if the weather’s rubbish ..." I left unsaid how much of a hassle it was to sneak my bike out every time. No need to go into that.

She seemed unfazed by my vague response, wandering a few steps away, still clearly awed by the view. "I'm surprised it isn't busier."

"It has its moments, but the area's massive. There could be loads of us around, and we'd never bump into each other." I reached out for the helmet she was still holding. "Here, let me take that. There’s a clearing just up ahead. It’s got the best view of everything."

She tipped her head back, eyes flitting across the canopy that enshrined us in solitude. I knew that feeling well, having lost myself to the forest's embrace countless times. Here, it felt like coming home. My panther thrived in this tranquillity, the closeness to nature a call he couldn't resist. "I'd live out here if I could, or somewhere similar. Do you want to head up? The clearing's just past those trees."

Her response was immediate—a keen "yeah." Then, unexpectedly, she slipped her hand into mine. I hesitated for a split second before my fingers wrapped around hers. Our eyes locked, and damn, my heart took flight, sending a thrill through me that my panther revelled in. The melding of excitement with my pounding heart was new, intense. I fought to keep my mental barriers up, sensing her emotions nudging at the edges, eager to intertwine with mine.

I craved to experience this on my terms, to feel what was genuinely mine. My panther prodded me on, urging closercontact. Her lips, so inviting, became the focus of my yearning—I ached to taste them again.

Forcing my gaze away was a struggle; staying put or bridging the distance felt like standing at a crossroads. Perhaps that kiss the night before was just a momentary lapse, a slip into shared vulnerability. I couldn't risk assuming more, not when the stakes of misinterpretation loomed so large.

Hesitant, I cautiously placed my hands around her waist, fingers lightly tracing the contours of her hips. Questions raged within me—did she truly desire this? Was this the right move? A fog of doubt and hesitation enveloped me as we stood locked in an embrace, enveloped by the profound silence of the moment. My fingers brushed the hem of her t-shirt where it met her jeans, and then, emboldened by a mixture of desire and memory, I kissed her—echoing the intimacy of the previous night. I felt her breath catch, her tremor at our contact.

For a fleeting moment, I considered retreating, worried I’d ventured too far to a place we weren't ready to explore. Yet, when she kissed me back, all those fears and uncertainties dissolved into nothingness. It was as if two puzzle pieces clicked together, everything falling into place, making perfect sense.

Her lips, tender and inviting against mine, were intoxicating, sending my senses into a whirlwind of heightened awareness. Every part of me was alive, tingling with anticipation as my panther stirred, its longing mirroring my own, leaving me breathless and yearning to drown in this moment with her.

Time seemed to stop as we kissed, our bodies pressed together, surrounded by the forest's silent embrace. Her heartbeat, rapid against mine, created a harmony so profound, it felt as though our very souls were intertwined, merging into one entity.

Eventually, I withdrew, albeit reluctantly, to look into her eyes, finding no reason to utter apologies. She held on, her armsstill draped around my neck, her gaze capturing mine with its depth and clarity.

I was about to speak, when she beat me to it. Her voice was a whisper, but in the hush of the forest, it sounded crystal clear. "Don't stop," she murmured, her eyes locked on mine, a depth of feeling in them that I hadn't dared to hope for. It was as if she saw right through to the core of me, to the very essence of my being.

Her words, simple yet profound, banished any lingering doubts. They reaffirmed the connection I felt, the undeniable pull that drew us together. It was a validation of the feelings that had been simmering below the surface, feelings that now seemed destined to boil over.

My panther purred in satisfaction, its primal urge mirrored by my own. This wasn't just a fleeting moment of passion; it was the beginning of something deeper, something real. This was where I was meant to be.

The night around us seemed to hold its breath, the world pausing in reverence to the connection unfolding. We resumed our embrace, the kiss deepening, exploring, as if each of us was a continent the other had just discovered. Her response, fervent and eager, was the answer to every question my heart had asked.

Everything else faded away—the worries about the future, the fear of getting caught, the complexities of our lives. There was only us, two souls intertwined in the quiet majesty of the wilderness.

"Shall we?—"