Thanks to my reviewer Tawny for the "stormy weather" prompt... here you are.
It was a dark and stormy night.
Actually, it was a dark and stormy day, and Holly was stuck inside.
She was absolutely thrilled.
Because she was stuck inside Fowl Manor, curled up under an enormous blanket, in front of a blazing fire.
Especially because she was curled up under the blanket with the nicest guy ever.
Who cared that he was a forger, thief, and kidnapper? He was a hell of a lot nicer than Trouble. In her opinion, anyway. Not that he knew she felt like that. But she was pretty sure that he had invited her up today while fully aware of the weather forecast. After all, the near-hurricane lashing against the window had begun only 15 minutes after she arrived, and Artemis never missed a detail.
Except when he was asleep. Like he was now. Holly felt a little guilty for boring him to the point of unconsciousness, but as he fell asleep, he had grabbed at the warm body next to him... hers, specifically.
Any random spectator would have sworn they were a couple. It almost made Holly wish that there were a random spectator, simply so that she could say, "See? I am too capable of catching Artemis Fowl. In your face, Kelp."
In fact... if a random spectator cropped up, she hoped it was Kelp. So she could rub his nose in it. Again and again and again.
Not that she liked the Mud Boy or anything. In that way.
Only... she did, a little.
Just a little.
The arm around her waist shifted, pulling her in tighter. Artemis murmured in his sleep.
Holly felt a rush of heat flood through her.
Okay. Maybe she liked him more than a little.
"Holly," he breathed.
She jolted, hearing her name. "I'm here, Arty."
No reply. He was still asleep. Holly closed her eyes and joined him.
OMG! Are you saying, "Where, ILF, is the hot and heavy descriptive make-out session that you always give us? Where is the lame confession of love that Artemis makes to Holly, followed by a passionate embrace? Why have you only given us a deep, A/H drabbley thing with no conclusion, where the best conclusion must be drawn by the reader?" The answer is... BECAUSE I FELT LIKE IT! SHUT UP! I'll do something sexy in Chapter 4. I promise.