My eyes don’t leave his. His hands are on me, rough and trembling, cupping my face as if I might disappear if he lets go. The warmth of his palms seeps into my skin, grounding me when everything else feels weightless. Then he leans in, breath mingling with mine, deepening the kiss. My mind short-circuits, causing the world to blur, while the faint taste of smoke lingers around us.
I always thought kisses were supposed to take my breath away, not give it back. Yet, he’s breathing life into every hollow place I didn’t know was empty. My fingers twitch against his chest, feeling the hurried rhythm of his pulse beneath the rise and fall of his breath. When he finally pulls away, the windy chill hits harder than the fire ever did.
He steps back, his chest rising and falling like he’s trying
