"Tam," Laurel whispered, her voice low yet urgent, "Leave me." She almost didn't want him to. She wanted his arms around her, not David's, but it was all too late now.
Ignoring her, Tamani took two quick strides toward her. "I'm not going to. I won't give up or admit defeat. That time in Avalon, when I kissed you in front of David and you pushed me away, was the worst time in my life. Worse than when my father died. Worse than when I was shot. And I am not letting it happen again." Tamani's voice was raw and deep. As he said it, he edged closer to her. Instinctively, Laurel stepped back—and unceremoniously tripped on a tree root. Arms flailing wildly and feet coming out from under her, Laurel frantically tried to grab on to something. And in this case it happened to be Tamani's shirt.
"Don't you ever do that again," Tam whispered. He pulled Laurel to her full height and glared at her.
Stunned, Laurel looked into Tamani's light green eyes. They were that color only because he wanted to protect her. He'd done so much—abandoned his family, disregarded rules—for her, and yet she continued to push him away. She'd used him, strung him along, just for her own personal "happiness". She'd turn him into the person he was now, hesitant, bitter, and defeated. Why, and for what? David. As much as she wanted to, she couldn't forget about David, the boy who had helped her through it all. Sighing in frustration, Laurel sank to the ground.
Tamani lowered himself to pat Laurel on the head. "Sorry. Maybe this will help."
Laurel looked up, expecting him to hand her one of the revitalizing faerie potions he always carried. But instead, he moved his hand up to cup her chin and kissed her on the lips. A sweet taste flooded her mouth, and as always her world shifted with his lips against hers. But this time, it was Tamani who pulled away first. "Sorry…I didn't mean to…I'll go now."In a haze of sheepishness he got up and started to walk away.
She didn't know what demon possessed her for her to stand up and call out. Tamani turned, his face guarded and hidden by the shadows of autumn leaves.
Laurel didn't want him to go. She didn't want to face consequences with David either. There was only one option. "Tam. Let's spend one night together. I really can't keep visiting you any longer. I love you, but I love my world more. I'll stay for today, and we'll do whatever we want."
Tamani's expression didn't change, but it was clear from his eyes that he was dismayed. "No. It's alright. You go home now."
Laurel couldn't stand it any longer. She ran to where Tamani was and kissed him, twining her arms around his neck. And suddenly Tamani was alive again. He wrapped his arms around her back, closing his eyes as he shifted position to kiss her back. The taste of his mouth was intoxicating, and Laurel didn't want to let go, even when he tried to push away. Finally, he gave in and lowered her to the ground, him on top. His body was perfectly aligned with hers, and his mouth was still against her lips. Faintly in the back of her mind, Laurel realized that this was the longest kiss they'd ever shared. Breathing hard, Tamani pulled away and rolled off of her. "Go. I can't control myself around you. A future with you is impossible, and I knew that fact when you were chosen to be the scion. I just hoped…hoped you would remember. I love you, Laurel, and always will. To you, it doesn't seem to matter at all, so leave before I do something I will regret." Tamani said, laying on his back, eyes glazed over.
Tears flooded out of Laurel's eyes. Tamani quickly got to his feet and walked back into the trees. Their relationship was impossible. And yet Laurel still wanted to believe…