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“Remember that glass prism ruler you had in the fifth grade?” she asked as she spun, watching the colors dance around her. “You used to try to catch the sun with it to make rainbows on my desk. It always made me smile. Your little rainbows would never fail to brighten my day.”

She stopped dancing and bestowed her brightest smile on him. He felt like he’d taken a hit, the projectile being myriad colorful energies that eradicated the dark specters in his soul, breaking his heart open to allow her light to pour in.

Her power was phenomenal. To have experienced so much pain and not let it defeat her was remarkable. She was still as bright as she had been as the young girl he’d once loved. Her scars, both inside and out, were a representation of her walk through the shadows. But even if the darkness threatened to swallow her, her light pushed through, burning those shadows into oblivion.

He felt the same thing happening to him. Her joy in something as simple as rainbows did more to restore his heart than anything he’d ever experienced.

His childhood memories were filled with rainbows, laughter, literary quotes, holding hands, smiles, and his love for a girl. Now, there were still all of those things, only his love for the girl was changing. A breathtaking woman full of warmth and light stood before him, and he wanted her.

He wanted her laughter, to listen to her quote from great literary works. He wanted to watch her dance with rainbows, and to hold her hand through life’s twists and turns. But most of all, he wanted her as a man desires a woman.

Her smile slipped slightly as he stood entranced. “Is everything okay?”

Pulling himself out of his reveries, he crossed through the rainbows to her. Cupping her face with both hands, he leaned down until his lips were a whisper away from hers. “Everything is perfect, Sunfire. You are perfect. And I would love to give you rainbows every day.”

While standing surrounded by diminutive rainbows and the vivid joy of his Sunfire, he kissed her. And there was nothing more that he wanted or needed at that moment. Her kiss filled him with color, just like the rainbows she’d danced in. He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers, needing a moment to absorb the rush of feelings as the color overwhelmed him after so long in the shadows.

Fifteen years ago

Logan foundAnnikareading as usual in the big armchair by the windows that overlooked the lake. He plopped down beside her and put his arm around her shoulder. She settled back against his chest and continued to read.

“Whatchareadin’?”

“A book,” she replied with a smirk.

“What’s it about?”

“People. Places. Things,” she replied sarcastically. “Oh, and there’s a cat too.”

“Of course, there is.” He sighed and let his head rest against the back of the chair,content to sit with her quietly as she read. He would miss moments like this when he was gone. His chest ached; he would miss her.It hurt to think of a time when hewouldn’tbe near her.Wouldn’tbe able to smell that intoxicating aroma of oranges in her hair.Wouldn’tbe able to see one of her golden smiles that warmed the deepest darkest places of his heart. It was times like this that he seriously contemplated throwing all his dreams away just so he could stay near her.

“Logan?”

“Mmm?”

“What’s it like to kiss somebody?” Of all the things she could have asked him, that was the last thing he expected. Sure, they talked about most everything, but that seemed like a question to ask a girlfriend. But, of course,Annikadidn’thave many close girlfriends,choosing to spend all of her time with him and Jamie instead. Less drama, she often said.

“What?”

“I want to know what it’s like to kiss someone. What does it feel like?”

“It’s…nice.”

“Just nice?”She shifteduntil she was facing him. His arm still wrapped around her, his hand just under her breast. If he moved his thumb just a tiny bit, he could feel the underside.

“Well…if it’s with the right person, it can be really nice.” His eyes fell to her lips. Howhe’dlove to find out what kissing her would be like. He had a feeling that if he went there,he’dnever be able to stop.

“Show me?” she asked quietly.

“What?”Hewas stunned. Hecouldn’tkiss her…could he?

“I want you to show me,” she asked again.

“Annika,I can’t do that.”

“Why not? What’s the worst that could happen?”

Everything!If he kissed her, he had a feelinghe’dlose his heart forever. “Annika, we can’t. I can’t,” he insisted.