Page 89 of Hollow Valley

“And that doesn’t bother you?”I asked.“That you don’t know what I want, or where I’m from, or that I’m going to be out of your life in a matter of months?

He shrugged.“I’ll admit that I’m curious about a lot of things.But like I said, I enjoy being around you, and it will be safer and easier for both of us if we travel together.”

Part of me wanted to say yes, for reasons both logical and painfully emotional.But another part hesitated, uneasy with how much I found myself drawn to him.

“I know that I need to be more cautious so I don’t end up putting myself and my animals in danger again,” I said, carefully choosing my words.“But… I just don’t know if it’s a good idea.”

“I won’t ask you for more than you’re willing to give,” he promised, and the way he looked at me… I believed him.

He was sitting there, one hand on his own leg, the other on his bed, his fingers knotted in the blanket.The firelight was dancing across his face, and his lips were slightly parted as he inhaled.

I was beside him, my legs crossed underneath me, on his bed, in only a tank top, and I knew that nothing would change unless I asked for it.By necessity, I had been vulnerable with him since the moment we met, and he’d never overstepped a line or crossed a boundary.

“Okay,” I said.

“Okay?”he echoed uncertainly.“As in just okay, or okay you’ll wait until May?”

“Okay, I’ll wait until May,” I said, and already his smile was deepening.“I’ll go with you.”

“Yeah?”he asked, as if he couldn’t quite believe it.

I laughed.“Yeah.It’ll be fun.And I think Vince will like Buck’s company.”

“Oh?So this is all about Vince, and not about how you feel about me?”he asked.

“Yes.That is what I’m saying.It’s entirely about Vince, and not about how I think you will increase my likelihood of survival.”I put my hand on top of his, the one on his leg, and as I spoke he moved, entwining his fingers through mine.

“Well, as long as we’re both clear about where I stand.”

He leaned in, and his hand that had been knotted in the blanket moved onto my back.His rough fingertips brushed against the exposed skin between the hem of my tank top and my pants.

I shifted closer, feeling the heat from the fire and from his body.My heart hammered in my chest, and then, with only a moment’s hesitation, I pressed my lips to his.Immediately, he kissed me back and slid close to me.His hand gripped my hip desperately but carefully, pulling me closer to him without hurting me.

Almost as quickly as we started kissing, we stopped, with me pressing my hand to his chest.

“Was that okay?”he asked breathily, his eyes searching mine.

“Yeah, it was great.”I smiled up at him, and relief washed over his face.“But I need you to know… this doesn’t mean anything, okay?”

He paused, as if considering, then he nodded.“Okay.I understand.”

I kissed him again, more deeply this time, and he responded by wrapping an arm around me.His kisses were fervent, but even in the heat of the moment, his touch was restrained.His hands anchored me, gripping my hip with a desperate need, but never rough, always mindful of my healing body.

I climbed onto his lap, looping my arms around his neck as I pressed my body against his.“Don’t be so careful, you can’t break me.”

He smirked up at me.“You were literally a bag of broken bones when I met you.”

“You put me back together once, you can do it again,” I told him as I pulled him back onto the bed with me.

54

Remy

“This feels bizarre,” I told Jordy as we walked through the quiet streets to Daiyu and Trevor’s house on the other side of town.It was only about five minutes away, and the brisk air felt good on my cheeks.

“You were the one who told Daiyu you wanted to get out more,” Jordy reminded me.He was carrying a platter of spruce tip shortbread cookies he’d made, but his other arm was looped through mine, in case I slipped on an errant patch of ice.

“Yeah, but I meant that I wanted to get back out into the woods with Ripley to do some hunting,” I said.