Page 17 of Skyblossom
“Ah…” I put my face in my hands. “You’re just saying that.”
“I’m not,” she laughed, sidling up next to me, and I felt like I’d pass out when she put her hand on my hip. “I’ve had such a good time chasing after these ingredients with you. You’re smart and quick-witted and charming and you’rereallycute when you’re flustered and hiding your face.”
“Okay. Good to know. In that case, I’ll stay in here.”
“It’s just…” she said, her voice wistful. “Well, you know. It wouldn’t really be fair to you, given…”
“No, it would!” I said, surprising both of us as I dropped my hands. “Um… I mean, I think it would. I know it would just be a short-term thing. I’m okay with that. I mean, it’s like I was saying back in the glen, we can call it… p-practice. Warmup. You know, shaking out the nerves before your big… your big encounter withtrue love.” What was I saying? It sounded even more ridiculous out of my mouth than it had out of Viv’s, and it had been ridiculous coming out of hers, of all people. But Summer looked at me with an achingly soft expression.
“I’d feel terrible, though… dating you just to throw you aside.”
“You wouldn’t throw me aside,” I said, hands clasped at my waist, looking up through my lashes at her. “We’d still be friends and you’d still… I don’t know, respect me. Think well of me. You’re a better person than to just discard me.”
“But even so, isn’t it going to… you know, hurt?”
I shrugged, looking past her. “Maybe. But, um… knowing you feel the same way… and not doing anything, I think that would hurt even more.”
She stared at me for a minute, her lips parted, before the smallest, softest smile passed over her features, and she said, “Yeah. Maybe.”
My heart jumped, and then took off racing like a wild wyvern. “Yeah?”
“Lumi would kill me if she found out,” she laughed, and she stepped closer. The trees glowed softly overhead—luminis nesting there and shining softly against the night. Just like the whole time, from luminis to magic confluence events to everything else. Like a gift of true love. Or like a very, very cruel curse.
“Then… I guess she won’t find out?”
“She’s a diviner.”
“She seems a little, um…”
“Clueless. Yeah, okay, point taken.” She slipped her hands into mine, and then ran them up my arms to my back, sending chills down my spine. “So… should we revisit that idea ofpractice kissing?”
“Oh, saints. I mean, as long as we don’t call it that,” I laughed, and my voice fell off into something impossibly soft as I said, “then I’d, um… I’d love to… to kiss you, Summer.”
She brushed a thumb over my lower lip. “I’d like that too,” she whispered, and my heart about stopped beating altogether when she leaned in and pressed a kiss against my lips, soft andsweet, not rushing anything, not pressuring anything. Seeking permission.
She didn’t need to. I wanted her to do everything. I wrapped my arms around her, and I kissed her for all I could, our lips slipping together as she murmured softly against me. Kissing me. Kissing Summer. Saints and stars. Was I hallucinating?
If so, I was going to enjoy it. I touched my tongue to her lips, emboldened, and she made a noise of pleasant surprise, opening her lips to grant me access, and I took her lip between mine and sucked lightly, feeling my body heat up with the movements, the activity. She was a little breathless by the time we pulled away. To be fair, so was I.
“Is this okay?” she said, and I laughed, answering her without words—I backed her up against the railing, hands on her hips, kissing her again. She kissed me back, breathless and hungry, and I should have been embarrassed at the way my body was burning for her. I wasn’t.
“I want you,” I murmured, my lips brushing hers. She laughed nervously.
“I didn’t expect you to take charge so much once you made a move…”
I pouted, tugging on the front of her jacket. “Do you want me to stop?”
“I definitely don’t. I mean… I don’t see any reason to take it slow… and I want you too,” she breathed, voice hitching as she swept her gaze down over me. I bit my lip. She was right that I’d never really been one to take charge—back when I’d been with Natalie, I’d just smiled and nodded and let her lead the way—but I was bubbling with inspiration of ways I wanted Summer.
I thought I’d be shy. But I, um… wanted her in bed. We were on a time limit. I didn’t see any reason to take it slow, either.
“Do you, er… fancy sneaking a girl into your dorm?” I murmured, kissing her jaw, taking in the shape of her. She bit her lip, smiling into it.
“I’d love to, but Lumi would absolutely find out if I did.”
“Oh… ugh. Mine…” I frowned. “My galeria is so nosy.”
She licked her lips. “I know a place.”
