Page 142 of The Ampersand Effect

Tobin loved that sound—Grier’s laughter. It blended with the sounds of nature around them, settling in Tobin’s stomach like a balm for her nerves.

She was straining against her reflexes, forcing herself to stay present and focus on Grier’s face, even as the flicker of lights in her periphery tugged at her attention. The fireflies came to life—quiet, blinking sparks escalating quickly with the deepening darkness.

Grier hadn’t noticed yet, and Tobin hoped a few thousand more would join the silent chorus before they captured her attention.

“Raising a baby owl is quite the undertaking,” Tobin offered lightly, keeping Grier focused on her.

“You’re telling me! That thing haslungs!” Grier exclaimed, reaching for Tobin’s hand where it still threaded through her hair. She laced their fingers together over her chest, and Tobin could feel the steady beat of her heart between her breasts.

She tried to encourage hers to match its pace.

She couldn’t stand the space between them—small as it was. Leaning forward, Tobin placed a gentle kiss on Grier’s forehead, then one on each of her eyes. She inhaled the familiar scent of Grier’s skin and perfume, calming and arousing her in the same breath.

Grier’s free hand slid up to Tobin’s neck, pulling her closer— down to her lips.

The sensation of Grier’s soft, unhurried kiss sent Tobin’s already erratic heart soaring to new levels. Grier teased her lips with the tip of her tongue, then slowly opened for her.

This—this—was Tobin’s favorite.

The easy way they fell into each other’s comfort. The slow, knowing kisses. The way everything else just fell away as Grier languidly wrapped her lips around Tobin’s—sucking and nipping and lavishing.

It was just… perfect.

Grier’s hand shifted to Tobin’s face, her thumb brushing gingerly along her jaw. She pulled away, breathless and senseless.

It was too dark to see anything but the reflection of the moon in Grier’s eyes. But it was enough to make Tobin’s stomach flip.

Lub dub, lub dub, in love.

Grier wrapped her other hand around Tobin’s wrist, fingers pressing lightly over her pulse. She didn’t know how Grier did it, but she always seemed to know when Tobin’s heart was racing.

“Your pulse is erratic, Tobin. And… are you shaking?” Grier sounded concerned.

Tobin was starting to regret that she had decided to tell Grier tonight, like this. It was too dark.

She wanted Grier to see her face, to reassure her that her racing pulse and trembling hands were good things—natural things.

She wanted to see Grier’s face when she said the words.

Lub dub, lub dub, in love.

“Ye—yeah.”

She swallowed the lump of nerves that had taken this opportunity to lodge in her throat.

“But, it’s for a good reason. I swear. I—“

But the words died on her lips when a flicker of green fit in the narrow space between their faces. Just a flash—there and gone.

Grier’s gasp of comprehension followed mere milliseconds later.

Suddenly, Grier bolted upright, her excited energy palpable between them as she knelt beside Tobin, their fingers still laced.

“Tobin…”

Her name was a whisper on Grier’s lips. A prayer.

Tobin’s stomach swooped, hearing the reverence in the way Grier said her name, hushed and holy.