“Ivy,” I called to a nearby vendor, raising my voice. “Can you cover Paige’s booth for a few minutes? We’re grabbing coffee.”
Ivy took one look at our faces and smirked. “Sure. Take your time.”
Paige glared at me, though there was no heat in it. “Presumptuous.”
“Motivated,” I corrected, catching her hand. “Let’s go.”
We slipped through the crowd, past kids with painted faces, past the booth selling scarves, past the swirl of roasted nuts and cider. At the hot chocolate stand, the vendors were swamped. Perfect. No one cared what was happening around the side.
I pulled her into the canvas-covered prep area, the air thick with the scent of chocolate and cinnamon, the steam warming the small space like a secret hideout.
“This is insane,” she whispered.
“This is survival,” I said, backing her gently against a post. “Because if I had to stand out there one more minute, watching you smile at strangers while all I could think about was kissing you—I would’ve lost it.”
Her lips parted. “Jonas?—”
“Last night,” I said, my hands firm on her waist, “when you told me you’ve never been with anyone, all I could think was how much I want to be the one. The first. The only.”
“That’s a lot of responsibility.”
“It’s an honor,” I said, meaning every word.
She looked up at me, eyes soft and trusting, and I knew I was in trouble. This wasn’t just heat anymore. It was more. Too much.
“I’ve never felt like this,” she admitted.
“Neither have I.”
The sounds of the festival faded. It was just us, the warm steam, and the rich smell of chocolate.
“I’m going to kiss you now,” I told her.
“Okay,” she whispered.
I cupped her face and brought my mouth to hers.
Her lips were soft, sweet, addictive. She sighed against me, fingers fisting in my jacket, and I nearly came undone. Shetasted faintly of cinnamon sugar, sweet and spicy, and when I deepened the kiss, she melted against me like she belonged there.
“God, Paige,” I murmured.
She answered by kissing me harder, her hand sliding into my hair, making me groan.
This was supposed to be just a kiss. A stolen moment. But with her pressed against me, her lips hot and eager, I was gone. Control was slipping fast.
I forced myself to break the kiss, both of us breathing hard. “We should go back,” I managed, though every cell in me rebelled.
She nodded, but stayed close, lips inches from mine. “In a minute.”
“Paige—”
“Just one more.” She tugged me back down.
And I was lost all over again.
5
PAIGE
