Page 6 of Fairy's Forbidden Touch
“I would like to touch your face,” he said simply. “I have observed this is common among humans who are… familiar with one another.”
Holy shit, is this really happening?
“Um, yeah. That’s… that would be fine.”
He raised his hand slowly, telegraphing his movement as if afraid of startling me. Cool fingertips brushed my cheek, then traced the line of my jaw with feather-light precision. His touch was hesitant, exploratory, like someone touching a butterfly’s wings.
“Your skin is warm,” he murmured. “And there is roughness here.” His finger rasped against my stubble.
“I need to shave,” I said, then immediately felt stupid for such a mundane response to this surreal moment.
“No, it’s… interesting. Different.” His thumb brushed over my lower lip, and I had to stifle a gasp. “Humans do this before kissing, do they not? Touch faces?”
Is he asking what I think he’s asking?
“Sometimes,” I managed. “Usually when they’re interested in each other. Romantically or… physically.”
His head tilted slightly. “And are you? Interested?”
The directness of the question caught me off guard. “I… yes. I am. But I didn’t think you—”
“I have watched you,” he interrupted. “More closely than the others. There is something about you that…” He frowned, searching for words. “You are different. Not just because you can touch me. Your energy is… chaotic but bright.”
Is that a compliment?
“I’ve been thinking about you too,” I admitted. “Probably more than I should.”
His hand was still on my face, thumb tracing small circles near the corner of my mouth. “Will you show me?”
“Show you what?”
“A kiss. How it’s done properly.”
My heart hammered against my ribs. “Are you sure?”
Instead of answering, he leaned forward slightly, clearly waiting for me to close the distance.
I moved slowly, giving him time to pull back. When our lips met, his were cool and impossibly soft. The kiss was gentle, chaste—just a press of lips as I gauged his reaction. He remained perfectly still, as if cataloging the sensation.
When I pulled back, his eyes were wide, pupils dilated.
“That’s the basic version,” I said, my voice embarrassingly husky.
“There are variations?” he asked immediately.
I couldn’t help laughing. “Many. Very many variations.”
“Show me another,” he commanded, and there was something almost princely in his tone—accustomed to having requests fulfilled.
This time, I cupped his face in my hands, marveling at the smoothness of his skin. I kissed him more firmly, gently coaxing his lips to move with mine. When I tentatively traced the seam of his mouth with my tongue, he made a startled sound but didn’t pull away. Instead, his lips parted, allowing me deeper access.
The kiss turned from exploratory to heated in seconds. For someone who claimed to have no experience, Thalen was a remarkably quick study. His hands moved hesitantly to my shoulders, then slid into my hair, mimicking my earlier movements.
When we finally broke apart, we were both breathing harder. His perfect composure had slipped, eyes wide and lips slightly swollen.
“That was…” he began, then seemed at a loss for words.
“Yeah,” I agreed, equally eloquent.
