Page 60 of Fallen Flame

She tipped her head back and placed my hand gently on her waist. “Ollie.”

Damn. I really did like hearing that now.

“Just stop thinking, okay?” she said quietly. “You’re supposed to keep me safe, and dancing with me keeps me safe.”

“It also keeps you safe if we don’t dance and I keep standing where I was.”

She shrugged. “We’re already here.”

“I noticed.”

“So...” She gave my hand a little squeeze. “...go with it.”

I should’ve told her no. Instead, I slid my other hand into hers, and we started swaying.

Simple.

Slow.

Easy.

The farther we moved from the fire pit, the more the shadows wrapped around us.

She fit perfectly against me, like she’d always belonged there. I couldn’t remember why I’d been fighting this.

She was funny. She challenged me. She made me smile when nobody else could. She somehow got me talking when most people accepted one-word answers. She never treated me differently because I was quieter than everyone else.

She just stayed. Wanted to be around me. Wanted to know me.

“Lark...”

She looked up. “What?”

I reached up and brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

She didn’t move away and didn’t say anything. She leaned closer, giving me every chance to pull away.

I didn’t.

Our lips met softly. Carefully.

The kiss barely lasted more than a heartbeat before we both paused.

She smiled. Just a little, and then kissed me again.

Longer this time. Still gentle. Still cautious. Like neither of us wanted to rush whatever this was becoming.

“Oh, lovebirds!” Ever’s voice carried across the yard. “We’re heading to bed.”

Lark and I stepped apart.

Jude smirked. “Penny, Clove, and Ender already went inside.”

I looked toward the clubhouse. “We should head in too.”

Lark nodded. She’d gone unusually quiet.

Neither of us seemed to know what to say after the kiss.