Page 26 of Evergreen

“Sure.”

“Why did you kiss me last night?” I asked, staring up into his eyes. “You just… did it. I didn’t see it coming at all.”

Linden was quiet for a moment and I watched as he seemed to be searching for the right words. His gold eyes held my gaze until he seemed to find them at last.

“It just… felt right,” he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “You’re handsome, and I wanted to kiss you. Does it need to be more complicated than that?”

I stared at him for a long moment, processing his answer. Because honestly, I’d expected something more complicated. Some grand explanation about destiny or fate or the magic of the grove drawing us together. Not just... it just felt right.

“That’s it?” I asked. “You just felt like kissing me, so you did?”

“Pretty much,” he said with a shrug, and I could see the faintest hint of amusement in his expression. “Is that a problem?”

“No,” I admitted, running a hand through my disheveled hair. “It’s just... I don’t know. Most people overthink shit like that. They worry about timing and consequences and whether it’s a good idea. I overthink everything.”

“I’m not most people,” Linden replied, stepping closer to me. “And I don’t need any more reason to kiss you than I just want to.”

My stomach fluttered as he got closer, the heat of him washing over me. I felt my entire body begin to tingle, the blood pooling in my groin and making my jeans tight. My cheeks burned with a mixture of embarrassment and lust. I couldn’t help but glance down, wondering if he was having the same reaction.

He reached out and tucked a strand of my dark hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering against my cheek. The touch was gentle, and it made my breath catch in my throat.

“I want to kiss you again,” he said softly. “If you want that too.”

I did want it. God, I wanted it so badly it almost hurt. But we were in the greenhouse, where anyone could walk in and see us. Where Professor Paulson could show up. Where Nerion could materialize with his easel and his knowing smirk.

“We should probably work,” I said, even as every part of me rebelled against the words. “The Dean’s probably got some sort of magical surveillance on this place.”

“He doesn’t,” Linden smiled. “I checked.” He leaned down close, his lips only an inch or two from mine. “We’re all alone here right now. Nobody’s even going to be awake for at least another hour.”

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. At least an hour. We had an hour alone together. The thought made my pulse quicken.

“Yeah?” I managed to get out.

“Yeah,” he confirmed, and then he was kissing me again, and this time there was nothing tentative about it. His hands came up to frame my face, tilting my head back slightly to deepen the kiss. I opened my mouth to him eagerly, my own hands reaching up to grab fistfuls of his shirt.

His tongue swept against mine, and I felt that familiar surge of magic crackling through my veins. But this time I didn’t fight it. I let it flow, let it dance with his, let it build into something bigger and more intense than I’d ever felt before. The air around us grew warmer, and I could swear I felt the temperature of the greenhouse climbing.

When he pulled back, we were both breathing hard.

“Your magic,” he murmured against my lips. “Does it always do this when you kiss someone?”

“No,” I said, pulling him closer. “Just with you.”

He glanced up as a cloud began to form, warm raindrops falling on us slowly. “It’s beautiful.”

Before I could respond to that, he was kissing me again, and I lost myself in it completely. His hands slid down my sides, settling on my waist, and I could feel the warmth of his skin even through my shirt. I wanted to touch him, wanted to feel the muscles I’d been cataloguing all week, wanted to⁠—

A sound from the entrance of the greenhouse made us both freeze.

“Shit,” I muttered, pulling away from Linden quickly. My cock was hard in my jeans, and there was no way to hide it. “Someone’s here.”

Linden didn’t look particularly concerned. He just straightened his shirt and stepped back, giving me some space. I was grateful for that, at least. I turned away, trying to will my erection down as footsteps echoed through the greenhouse.

It was Professor Paulson, carrying a box of what looked like seedlings. She took one look at us standing there in the eastern section, and I watched as her eyes narrowed slightly.

“Good morning Linden.” she said, completely ignoring my existence. “You’re here early.”

“I wanted to get a head start on the day,” Linden said smoothly, like we hadn’t just been making out five seconds ago. “I brought some specimens back from the grove last night and Cass wanted to help.”