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“Don’tof this,” he told Rainne

He slid his hand up her arm until he cupped her cheek He heard her suck in soertips Alastair blame

d thelove to her for his sudden, and persistent, need to touch and taste She was in his head, under his skin, inside hier he was around her, the deeper she wormed herself into him

“This is not a big deal,” he said “It’s just for luck”

“I don’t believe in luck anymore,” she whispered

“What do you believe in now?” He found himself entranced by the look in her eye

“Hope,” she said, su that had mesmerised him

Softly, slowly, he closed the distance between them Her lips were satin She fit him perfectly A tiny moan escaped her throat as she pressed into hied him closer

What they planned to do was souys didn’t get theht That’s if they didn’t freeze to death in the snow first He needed oneRainne, in case it was their last

He slowed the kiss, until he gently pressed their lips together one last time The cold was unbearable when he pulled back from her Dazed eyes blinked up at him and he saw a flicker of hope in their depths

“This doesn’t ” He wasn’t entirely sure if the words were meant for her or for himself Either way, they stuck in his throat like a lie

He tugged the scarf back up to cover her mouth

“Was that anotherthat kiss sooodbye, are we?”

“No” Alastair couldn’t trust his were ju mess

Alastair pulled open the door and a blast of freezing wind hit them hard