Page 54 of Lost Starlight
“Of course, Peter. I love you, and I do not care if you are cursed.”
His green shirt billowed in the slight breeze. My skirts blew back as he moved in closer.
“How are you so incredible?” he asked.
“I assure you, I am not.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I am surprised you did not press me for it.”
“I was not worried about it. I figured that in time you would tell me. I trust you, Peter, more than anyone.”
“Gwen—darling Gwen.”
I loved it when he called me that—using my surname as an endearment brought me back to those simple days in the library when we first met. He pressed his forehead against my shoulder, tilting his head slowly to caress my neck with his lips.
“I love you so much.” He pressed the words into my skin like a searing promise I could never and would never wish to remove. “I feared—” He peppered more kisses up my neck and to my jaw. “–You would never read to me again.” He kissed my nose and smirked.
“No, I love reading far too much, and reading to you has become one of my favorite things. Yet you are enough reason for me to do anything.” I caressed the side of his face.
“Truly? You would have come every day to spend time with me?”
“Yes. I know I’m odd. I know this about myself—”
“You are not. I love the way you are.”
“Even my timidity?”
“Yes, I truly would not change it. I will kiss you in private for the rest of our lives if you would allow me. I don’t need to share our moments with anyone else.”
“Peter, you truly do not mind? You truly do not see me as a fool? I know other ladies are not as delicate as I tendto be. And you have sacrificed so much more than I had realized to save me—to save the children. How can I ever repay you?”
“I need you just as you are, always. I would do it a thousand times,” he said, pressing the softest of kisses against my lips.
“Be captured by pixies a thousand times?” I asked as he moved away.
“Yes, if it meant I could save you. And knowing you’d come after me, well, that means I will never have to be without you.”
“I’ll always come if you need me, Peter.”
“IfI need you?” he said with a laugh, pulling my face into his hands. His gentle touch made my body feel alive, like it only did with him. Peter’s thumbs were so close to my mouth. His touch was everything.
“Gwen, my darling, I will always need you.”
Then, his lips were on mine, finally.
We had shared many kisses before that moment. Many of them were heated and seemingly untamed. But that kiss—that was something more than two people who respected and cared for each other could ever experience. As his lips danced with mine, and as he pulled me closer and my lips followed his lead, the wordlovedrummed inside of me to the rhythm of my heart. I walked backward a little, and Peter followed.
“Be careful, Gwen.” He paused, stopping my movement. I looked over my back to see that we were far too close to the cliff.
“I thought you could fly?” I said, trying to calm down my racing heart.
“I would, of course, catch you. I am a fantastic flyer. Do you wish to learn to fly? I can teach you.”
“To fly?” I asked, turning in his arms to press my back against his chest. I looked over the cliff at the view.
He slowly wrapped his muscular arms tighter around my waist, his head upon my shoulder, his lips kissing along my cheek and neck. He was intoxicating, addicting, everything I needed.
“Yes. I’d love to show you how to fly,” he whispered.
