Page 12 of Magic or Madness

“Fallon, we don’t have to talk about this if it’s too much for you.” I wipe her tears gently, and she scoots closer to me, resting her head on my chest.

“I’ve never said that out loud. There are so many things I’ve done with you that I never have before, and it’s only been a few hours that we’ve spent together. Ozzy, something about you makes me want to smash all my walls,” she confesses, and I look right into those captivating eyes.

They’re not sparkling anymore, though, the pain she hides is on full display, and I see something in her that I’ve never seen in another person before:pure turmoil.

Whatever happened to Fallon before she met me holds significant weight, and it’s still fresh for her.

“There’s no chance in hell that one night is going to be enough with you,beautiful girl,” I say honestly, feeling her nod against my chest.

“I know, Ozzy,” she whispers, turning over until her body is parallel to mine and her chin rests on my chest.

“What should we do about that?”

“Make the best of it, and pretend that tomorrow is promised,” she whispers, staring directly into my eyes while I trace her jawline with my finger.

“Has anyone ever told you how perfect you are?” I ask, and she shakes her head.

“I can’t accept a compliment to save my life, fair warning,” she laughs, but I grab her chin, tilting her gaze back toward mine.

“No, Bambi. Have any of theboysyou’ve been with ever told you how pretty you look while they fuck you? Has anyone praised you, assuring you that you’re a good girl while you scream their name?” I bite my lip, rubbing my hands over her curves, waiting for an ounce of consent to touch her more.

“Do you want to be the first to do so?” She fires back, challenging me with her eyes, and shocking me with her words.

“Like I said, I’d wreck you,beautiful girl. I’d hate to be the guy who comes after me,” I tease, watching as she climbs closer to my lips, her face inches from mine.

“There won’t be anyone after you,” she says matter-of-factly, like she has a crystal ball in her pocket.

“You’re sure of that?” I ask, but she just shrugs, sitting up and putting distance between us.

“Stop fucking talking, and show me how sure I should be,” she challenges, and I’m dangerously obsessed with her smart mouth.

“Come here and kiss me.” I crook my finger, watching as she leans forward, rubbing her body against mine, inching closer until our lips are mere millimeters apart.

This isn’t how I pictured our night together, but our desire for one another is so fucking strong, it could be deadly.

Her eyes are locked into mine, the confidence strong in her voice, but the shaking tension in her body signals that she’s just as nervous as I am to makethatfirst move.

I had days to imagine what would happen between us if I ever found her, reunited with her, and now that she’s here – in my bed – it’s beyond my wildest dreams.

It’s more than a few glances in a diner, or a forbidden kiss in a hallway.

It’s more than our mutual desire to see each other again, even if we tried to promise ourselves one night would be enough.

I have a gut feeling that I could spend the rest of my days with Fallon, and I would stillbegfor more time.

FALLON

A few hours ago,I was planning a sad movie night with my roommates.

It’s a tradition we created when Mick’s two-year situationship broke things off, and now, whenever one of us goes through a breakup, sad movies and ice cream are a must. No matter how many times I assured them I was fine, they still insisted I had to cry it all out to whatever heart-wrenching rom-com Mick chose.

Instead, Ozzy crash-landed into my life, disrupting those plans and whisking me away forone nightof magic.

We’ve already been vulnerable with each other, revealing our desired thoughts and traumatic pasts with our dead mothers. It’s been a hell of a ride, and it’s only the beginning.

Now, I’m staring into his eyes, sitting on his stomach with my hands on his chest, moving cautiously as I think about the consequences of what I’m about to do.

One kiss was enough to upend my entire life, launching me into a series of events that have me questioning my sanity.

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