Page 53 of Wreckage

My eyes flickered open, and I found Elena staring at me.

For a second, I was caught in the moment, caught in the warmth of her pressed against me, caught in the way the firelight flickered in her blue eyes.

Instinctively, I reached out, cradling her face in my palm.

“You okay?” I murmured.

She swallowed, her lashes fluttering slightly. “My ankle hurts.”

My heart squeezed.

I hated seeing her in pain.

“Is there anything I can do for you?” I asked softly.

She shook her head sadly. “Time heals all wounds, right?”

I frowned, hating the sound of the resignation in her voice.

We fell into quiet conversation, the warmth of the fire casting long shadows across the wreckage.

At some point, the conversation shifted.

It turned into something more.

I don’t know how we got there, but suddenly, I was asking about her love life.

She laughed, the sound soft and sad.

“I’ve never had one,” she admitted.

That surprised me.

She looked at me, amused at my expression. “No one’s even ever kissed me before.”

My chest tightened at the knowledge.

She sighed, shaking her head. “Guess I’ll probably die out here without ever being kissed. But I’m good with that. Silly, isn’t it?”

I couldn’t let that happen. There was no way she wasn’t going to get kissed. I leaned in slightly, watching how she nervously bit her bottom lip.

“I can’t fix a lot of things about this situation,” I murmured. “But I can fix that.”

Her eyes widened. Her breathing shook.

I reached out, cradling her face again, my thumb brushing her cheek.

Her scent hit me—fresh flowers and citrus—and my heart pounded wildly in my chest.

I was so close now—a breath away. I could feel her shaking, see the caution in her gaze, and feel the anticipation.

But I wouldn’t push. I wouldn’t take what wasn't mine without her giving it freely.

“Can I kiss you?” I whispered.

She swallowed, her lips parting slightly before she whispered back, “Yes.”

And that was it.

---