“The phoenix?” I asked as I shoved my hands in my pockets and my gaze trailed over the colorful edges that peeked above her collar. At some point, she’d changed out of my oversized T-shirt and into a mint-green V-neck. I kind of liked her better in my shirt.
“Actually, no. Not at first. The first one was my dragonfly,” she said as she raised her arm and turned it to show me a dragonfly enmeshed with other tattoos on her inner forearm. “The phoenix was my fourth one,” she said with a nostalgic, small smile.
“I’m still blown away by all of this, Laila,” I muttered, and she pressed her lips flat before inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly.
“Yeah, me too. So do you have any?” she asked as her gaze traced my body hidden by a long-sleeved T-shirt and jeans. It was obvious she never saw my back when they brought me to my room.
“A few,” I said and left it at that.
“Is this what it’s gonna be like? Chitchatting about our tattoos? Making small talk?” she finally blurted as she took a step toward me. Two lines appeared between her brows as she searched my gaze. Her eyes were the brilliant blue I remembered, and they pulled me in.
Before I realized, I was standing in front of her and feathering my thumb under one eye, then over her brow, ending with the piercing. “You took the contacts out,” I murmured softly as my hand swept over the arch of her cheek and I ran her bright pink tresses through my fingers.
“Yes,” she whispered as she looked up at me without moving.
“Are you afraid of me?” I asked with a frown as I returned my eyes to hers.
“No,” she again whispered.
“Fuck, I’m sorry about everything. Sending your letters back, your parents,” I said and took a deep breath to continue with everything I believed I’d done wrong, but she pressed her fingertips over my lips to silence me.
“Don’t,” she said, and I noticed the shimmer of tears in her blue eyes. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she tugged her lower lip and piercing with her teeth.
I released her hair, and my hand curled around her throat. The movement when she swallowed rippled against my palm. In slow motion, we grew closer until our lips touched, yet we didn’t kiss.
“I missed you so fucking much,” she said softly, and the words sent her breath across my lips in a heated caress.
No matter the shitstorm swirling around us, I couldn’t stop myself if I tried. My lids lowered, and I stole her breath as my tongue slipped in to twist against hers.
The impact of that kiss rocked me to my core.