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“But you know there’s this line we can never cross.”

And with those words, my smile disappeared.

We weren’t born to grow up and spend the rest of our lives with each other. We weren’t supposed to grow old together, but that’s what I’ve always hoped for.

“What would happen if we did cross it?” I asked, thinking that we’d already crossed it a million times in my dreams and imagination anyway.

“Bad things. Things I don’t even wanna talk to you about because I don’t wanna upset you.”

I frowned, stepping closer to him and placing my left hand on his chest while I kept holding on to him with my other.

“We’re out here with no people around us. Besides…didn’t Papa come out here so society’s rules wouldn’t apply to us?”

He chuckled. “It’s still immoral, Vespyr. We’re bounded by blood. It wouldn’t be right.”

That was odd coming from him. “But you kissed me before.”

“It was just a peck, Ves. To show you how harmless a kiss can be. What you dream about in your sleep is different stuff. Twisted shit.”

“You said it’s okay to dream things like that.”

“I said it was okay to have such dreams, but to not let your mind think that it’s okay to do the things that happen in them. There’s a difference between dreaming and hoping.”

“But…” I sighed, letting my gaze drop to his chest where I was picking at his coat. “No one would know,” I whispered.

I was pushing this, but I shouldn’t have been.

He was right.

We couldn’t cross the line, no matter how much I wanted to.

And deep down, I knew he wanted it too.

Fennec grabbed both my hands and held them tightly in his, a small grin spreading across his lips.

“I can’t get over how persistent you can be. I didn’t think you could be this way.”

“How?”

“Like a go-getter. You obviously want something from me, and although I know exactly what it is, I never heard you say it. So, tell me. What do you want from me, sweet girl?”

My eyes met his again, but no words came out of my mouth.

“We’ve always been honest toward each other. Tell me, Ves.”

“You. I want to get closer to you,” I told him, suddenly feeling as if I was a changed woman.

How was I this open all of a sudden?

And the worst thing about it all? I was wide awake.

17

“How close?” I asked her, keeping her hands in mine as her eyes were filled with emotions.

I hadn’t expected her to go this far, and although she hadn’t said too much, I knew enough already.

She didn’t speak. Instead, her eyes moved from mine to my lips as she licked hers.

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