Chapter 19

Arya

All thoughts leave my body. All of it.

It thought I would be shocked. I thought I would be surprised. But no. The moment Arthur’s lips touch mine, I feel nothing but relief.

And even though this is our first time, even though I have no idea what I’m doing, I put my hand behind his neck and kiss him back.

I don’t know what came over me. He would probably think that I’m bad at this and refuse to kiss me again, but right now I can’t stop. I can’t pull away. The gravitational pull that he has on me is undeniable.

The world vanishes, gets reduced into this tiny space between us, right down to the movement of our lips and the warmth of our breaths. I can smell him, the sweet scent of something I can't quite put my finger on. I graze the back of his neck with my palm, my fingers digging into his hair, and he reaches out to cup my face, his thumb resting on my cheekbones. His touch is light, as gentle as the wind and as soft as the traces of water teasing the soil.

The flutters in my sto