"Hello, stranger." A familiar voice broke his concentration, which had previously been squarely fixed on what book he could while away the rest of his evening with. He squinted up the dark path ahead of him, though he already knew who it was.
"Daine," he grinned, coming to a stop. "I wasn't expecting to run into you."
"Nor I you, but I can't say I'm put out." She stopped in front of him, craning her next to meet his eye. "Where are you headed?"
"Home," he chuckled, embarrassed.
"Already? It's Midsummer." She cocked her head and he could tell he was about to be teased.
"Yes, well," he sighed. He didn't have an excuse besides the fact that was simply not in the mood for a crowd. "Where are you headed?"
She ducked her head, and had it been lighter out he was sure she would have blushed. "Not entirely sure yet."
"No plans?"
"I had some but," she made a face. "I ducked out to see if I could find something more worth my while."
He studied her, working out her words, and let out a laugh. "Am I correct that there is a very disappointed man somewhere nearby?"
"Not that disappointed, I'm sure." She scowled. "Besides, there's no shortage of people looking to be kissed tonight. He'll be fine."
He'd have been sorely disappointed had he been in her unknown suitors shoes, but he had enough of a mind not to voice that particular opinion.
"Besides," she continued, "I'm sure there's some woman who's far more disappointed not to be garnering your attention right now."
He laughed again and shook his head. "You're in a silly mood tonight."
"It's a good night for it." From far away they could hear music rise. "A good night for a little luck, too."
"For some, perhaps. I'll have to hope I've garnered enough favor with the gods to carry me through the year regardless."
"Oh, we can't have that." She was all mischief when she looked up at him and he groaned.
"I'm really not in the mood to amble all about the grounds tonight."
"You don't have to. Kiss me." She said it so matter-of-factly. Like the thought of him kissing her carried no reservations. Like it wouldn't carry the weight of all their years together as friends. Like it wouldn't threaten the platonic borders he'd worked hard to cultivate. She just looked up at him, stubborn chin tilted forward in an invitation.
"What?" He knew his question sounded clumsy, the rhythm of his heart beating too unsteady for him to find any rhythm he could speak to.
"Kiss me." There it was again. Like it was so simple.
He chuckled, voice nearly breaking, and shook his head, "Daine, I —" He wasn't sure what to say. He knew what he wanted to say, what he wanted to do, and in the face of that he racked his brain for any excuse to decline her. He thought of hundreds before, so why would none come to him now?
"It's just a little luck, Numair." She was teasing him again. He was torn: if he kissed her now he wasn't sure he'd ever be able to come back from it, but he hated to rebuff her when she had approached him so innocently. He'd seen how she looked at some of his former lover's—the envy at their looks that she tried and failed to hide from him—and would hate for her to feel that she'd been turned down because he found her physically wanting. Even from someone you weren't romantically interested in, that sentiment could damage self-esteem that was already sensitive. But if he said the wrong thing, she might know—
He looked down, and instantly regretted it. The way she looked at him, the slight part of her lips, the welcoming look in her eye. He was looking at an opportunity he never thought he'd have, one he shouldn't have. One that he was sure would never come again. It was right there for the taken. Offered freely.
"Someone might see." His voice had dropped an octave. He could see that she noticed by the slight upturn of her mouth. The satisfaction of a small victory if he'd ever seen it. "Are you sure?" He'd mean to be as matter-of-fact as she had been, but there was a huskiness in his voice that betrayed him. He was worried she'd pull away, realize what her offer meant to him, but if anything she seemed….excited. He pushed that thought away, sure that his mind was playing tricks on him.
She nodded, eyes falling to his lips. He looked around them, checking for prying eyes,
"We're alone." Her voice drew him back to her, quiet and low. He wasn't sure he'd ever heard her sound like that. More tricks, surely.
He leaned down, closing the last stretch of distance they hadn't already breached, and eased his lips over hers. He was careful to be polite, not too wanting. She wasn't.
His hands found the sides of her face, but he didn't have to pull her closer with the way she leaned into him. He followed her lead, easing his mouth over hers without breaking contact—not ready for it to end. All good things must, however, and when he could go no longer without breathing he pulled away.
She exhaled softly and drew back. He could feel the goosebumps on the back of her neck and knew he should drop his hands and let her step back.
"Midwinter's luck." He tried to laugh and it came out strangled. She made no move to pull away, hands pressing against his chest as she looked up at him.
"What are you thinking?" She said it lazily, like her mind was somewhere else.
"You taste like strawberries." The words were out before he could stop them and he cursed himself. Her allowing him a single kiss gave him no business talking of what she tasted like.
"You love strawberries." She was smiling again.
"I do." He needed to stop talking.
She did pull away then, her grin turning coy.
"I assume your plan for tonight included a book?"
He blinked, mind still trying to catch up to what had just transpired. "It did."
"Were you very intent on being alone?" He heard it then, a glimmer of hope in her voice. So slight he wondered if it had been there, under the surface, all along.
"I'm not sure I'd thought that far ahead," he spoke slowly so as not to stumble over his words.
"How about I walk with you?" She turned, facing the direction he had been headed, and then looked over her shoulder at him. "While you decide?"
He nodded, throat dry, and fell into step beside her.