Page 23 of Obsessed

"A blindfold? Really?" She raises an eyebrow. "What happened to teaching me self-defense?"

"Trust me?"

"After this morning?" But she's smiling as she turns, letting me tie it. "If you lead me into a carnivorous plant patch, I'm using those moves you taught me. On you."

"Noted."

I guide her through the jungle, steadying her when she stumbles. Her hand is warm in mine.

"Almost there," I say, positioning her at the overlook. "Ready?"

She nods. I untie the blindfold.

Her gasp echoes across the clearing. "Oh my... this is incredible!" She spins in place, taking it all in. "Look at the light through the mist! The refraction creates perfect?—"

"Drink?" I pull out a bottle of Kaleidian spirits.

"You're full of surprises today." She accepts a glass, sipping carefully. Her eyes widen. "That's... strong."

"Too much?"

"No, it's nice. Been a while though." She settles beside me, legs dangling over the edge. After her second glass, a flush spreads across her cheeks. "You know what's funny? I've been mapping this region for months, but never found this spot."

"Sometimes you need fresh eyes."

She leans against me, giggling. "Is that what you're calling yourself now? My fresh eyes?"

The late afternoon sun warms my skin as we share the meal I packed - simple protein wraps and fresh fruit she identified as safe to eat. Alice's enthusiasm for even basic fare is infectious. She dissects each bite, explaining the nutritional content and chemical compounds like she's giving a lecture.

"And these berries," she says, popping one in her mouth, "have twice the vitamin C of Earth citrus. Plus, they taste better."

"Everything tastes better when you're not eating alone." The words slip out before I can catch them.

She pauses mid-bite. "How long were you alone? Before the crash?"

"Long enough." I lean back on my hands, watching the mist dance in the sunlight. "This job... it's not exactly conducive to company."

"Neither is mine." She shifts closer, her shoulder brushing mine. "Thank you for finding this place. And for sharing it with me."

"Had to make up for this morning somehow."

"Is that what this is?" Her voice carries a teasing lilt. "An apology?"

I turn to face her, and my breath catches. The setting sun paints her skin gold, droplets of mist clinging to her hair like stars. She's beautiful in a way that makes my chest ache.

"No," I murmur. "This is because I wanted to see you smile."

Her eyes widen, and then she's leaning in. Her lips meet mine, soft and tentative at first, then with growing confidence. Icup her face in my hands, deepening the kiss as she sighs against my mouth. She tastes like sweet berries and possibility.

When we finally part, she rests her forehead against mine. "You're succeeding, you know."

"At what?"

"Making me smile."

CHAPTER 13

ALICE

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