My heart hammered in my chest as Brandon's lips pressed against mine softly.
We stood there, outside the palace under the late afternoon sun. The world seemed to slow, and my mind struggled to catch up with what was happening. I was frozen. Every muscle of mine was locked in place and shock flooded through me as my breath hitched in my throat. His kiss was warm, tender—yet so completely unexpected that it left me paralyzed.
I couldn’t move. Couldn’t even think properly. My mind raced, but my body betrayed me, rooted to the spot. I couldn’t push him away, couldn’t speak. I never thought of Brandon that way. He had always been just a friend—a solid, reliable presence in my life. Nothing more. But now?
How had I missed this?
I’d never seen the signs that he felt anything for me beyond f
