Page 104 of Carousel

“That’s not a yes or a no,” I say.

“I don’t think any answer in this world is a yes. If no is the only other option.”

I let his words settle.

Breathe, I remind myself.

My whole body, and the room itself, seem to tighten. Warp. Like anything could happen.

“You could have done, you know.”

“Done what?”

“Asked me to dance, instead of sulking. I’d been completely on my own until then⁠—”

“It wouldn’t have been appropriate.”

“Because I’m a prisoner? And you’re an officer?”

“Obviously. Could’ve been seen as IR.”

I scoff wholly. “And yet it’s okay to share a room with me? Practically a bed?”

“I don’t make the rules, Ara.”

“No,” I say, inching forwards. “You just go out of your way to enforce them. We already established that.”

“Shut up,” he says.

And then – wordlessly, wonderfully, like a wish came true – his lips crash into mine.

The kiss he gives me is urgent, desperate. I respond to it completely, sinking into him.

We stop, suddenly and in sync, like the kiss has shocked us both back to our senses.

And maybe stopping is the right thing to do. We could leave it here.

Or, we could carry on.

And my question has been answered.

“There it is,” I whisper, to his mouth.

“There it is,” he agrees, to mine.

And we move in again.

CHAPTER 19

The Keeper Switch

We keep kissing, barely coming up for air before connecting again. Like we’re scared stopping for more than a matter of seconds might shatter this. End it forever.

And I want more.

I’m yanking the bedsheet off him. I don’t want there to be anything between us. He leans right over me, enclosing me. I feel flushed, from my neck right up to the hairs on my head. I’m glad he can’t see me.

The truth is, I’d spent nights touching myself in my room while thinking of him. And now, actually being under him…