Page 36 of Wedded Witch

I close the door behind us and lean against it, watching as he takes in the space.

“Not exactly a five-star hotel,” he jokes, trying to lighten the mood.

I chuckle, glancing at him. “It’s cosy. I like it. Best room in the place you told me. Besides, it’s not the place that matters, right?”

His gaze locks onto mine, and for a moment, the world outside disappears.

“Right,” he replies softly.

Suddenly, I’m feeling the weight of everything unspoken between us.

We settle on the bed, sitting a little too close, the air thick with tension. Not the bad kind, even though my tummy is swirling with butterflies.

I want to ask him why he’s been so different again tonight, why the questions about my life seem to matter so much to him, but the words don’t come. Instead, he picks up a pillow and tosses it playfully at me.

“Okay, let’s play a game,” he suggests, grinning. “Two truths and a lie.”

I laugh, grateful for the distraction. “Alright. You go first.”

He thinks for a moment, then says, “I’ve never broken a bone, I once ate an entire pizza by myself, and I’m terrified of spiders.”

I raise an eyebrow, considering my options. “The pizza one is definitely the lie. No way you can eat an entire pizza by yourself. Everything here in the states is so much bigger than at home. I’ve seen the size of your pizzas!”

He shakes his head, laughing. “Wrong! I did it last week.”

I groan, feigning annoyance. “Okay, then it must be the spiders.”

“Nope. I’m a total wimp when it comes to them,” he says, and we both dissolve into laughter. It’s hard for me to picture him scared of anything though, so maybe he’s telling a white lie.

The game continues, but as we share stories, I can’t shake the feeling that the real game is the one happening between us, filled with glances that linger a little too long and moments that crackle with unspoken possibilities and lingering touches that aren’t quite innocent.

Eventually, the laughter fades, and the atmosphere shifts again. Kel’s expression turns serious, and he leans in closer. “Swyn, can I ask you something?”

I nod, my heart racing. “Sure.”

“Why are you really here? In Spells Hollow, I mean.”

I hesitate, the weight of my truth pressing down on me. It’s the one question I’ve been dreading, but as I look into his eyes, I realise I want to be honest with him.

“I’m here to… find something,” I finally say, my voice barely above a whisper as I try to hold back the truth that wants to spill free like a flooded river bursting its banks.

“What are you looking for?” he presses gently, his interest genuine.

I take a deep breath, feeling vulnerable but strangely safe with him.

“Answers.”

He studies me for a moment, then leans in closer, his warmth radiating against my skin. “You can tell me. I’m here.”

And just like that, the walls I’ve built start to crumble. As I open my mouth to respond, something shifts again, a magnetic pull between us. Before I can think, I lean in, closing the gap, and our lips meet softly, tentative but full of promise.

For a heartbeat, everything else fades away. The tension that’s been simmering between us ignites, and a rush of warmth spreads through me.

His hands cup my face, making my stomach flutter, and his lips are gentle at first, exploring, as if he’s savouring the moment just as much as I am. I melt into him, and the kiss deepens, becoming more urgent, more alive.

I let my hands find their way to his dark hair, fingers tangling in the softest silkiest strands I’ve ever felt as I pull him closer, deepening the connection.

My heart races, each thump echoing in my ears, drowning out everything else. The heat radiates between us, drawing me in like gravity.

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