Page 40 of Curses and Cornstalks
But the thought of my life going on while his is frozen in time doesn’t sit well with me. Even if I visit him every week for the rest of forever, it would ultimately end.
And I’ll be just another memory for him.
“You don’t have to say anything,” he assures me. “I’m just glad that it didn’t scare you away. You mean a lot to me, Cassie.”
His words float around me, and my pulse slams harder through my veins. Everything seems to be moving too quickly and not fast enough all at once. Like I’m running at full speed while standing still.
My head swims.
“Cassie?” he repeats when I don’t say anything. “Are you alright?”
My breaths come quicker as my panic rises, even though I try not to think about the future. It’s too much, too messy, and too disappointing if we don’t find a way to break his curse.
So, I do the only thing I can do: I distract myself.
“I’m fine.” I force a smile onto my face. “Can I see your face again?”
To my relief, he doesn’t hesitate, his hands immediately going for the rope around his neck. He unwinds it and pulls off the burlap, tossing it to the ground with his hat.
I stare, drinking in his handsome features. He looks the same as before, but his gray skin is smoother, more vibrant. Like he just took the best nap of his life.
“Much better.” I grin, and my heart skips a funny beat when my eyes land on his mouth. “Now, it’s my turn to show you something.”
One of his viney eyebrows lifts, along with the corner of his lips.
“You have to close your eyes, though,” I assure him.
He chuckles once. “Really?”
“Fair is fair.” I nod.
A grin spreads across his face, and he obeys. “Now what?”
“Now, don’t move.”
Swallowing the nerves threatening to overtake me, I wave my hand in front of his face to make sure he isn’t peeking. Satisfied, I take a tiny step closer, then another, eliminating as much space between us as possible without touching him.
When I’m close enough, his breath plays over my skin, making my stomach somersault.
Before I can chicken out or change my mind, I lean forward and press my lips to his. It’s brief, barely a brush of skin on skin, but it sends an electric shock zipping through me. Despite the coolness of his lips, warmth rolls through me, and my heart lodges in my throat.
His breath stutters as I kiss him again.
“Can I move now?” he murmurs against my mouth without opening his eyes.
Is that what he’s waiting for? Approval?
I giggle.
Such a gentleman.
“Yes,” I whisper. “You can.”
No sooner do the words leave my mouth than he comes alive, grabbing me by the hips and tugging me against him. I squeak before his mouth crashes against mine, his lips chasing mine in a frenzied dance, and heat blooms low in my belly.
My hands dance up his torso and over his shoulders, locking behind his neck. One of his hands presses against the small of my back, pulling me closer even though there’s no space left between us. Still, we aren’t close enough. I want to be so close to him that I can’t tell where I end and he begins.
His kisses take my breath away, and when he pulls away, I’m gasping for air. I open my eyes to find him watching me, his own gleaming.
