For a split second she thought she'd made a terrible mistake. After everything that had happened, Torie wouldn't have blamed him if he'd rejected her once more, but that was far from what happened.

Everything else faded away, the pain in her ankle, the awkwardness of a moment ago, even the musty smell of the unused cabin was pushed to the background. All she could feel was the weight of his hands, his kiss and the moment; she had certainly never been kissed like this before.

There was an urgency to it she didn't quite understand, but she was too wrapped up in him to think past the humming of her pulse and the feeling of everything falling back into place where it belonged. Her hands tightened their grip, her free one coming to join the other, landing softly between his collar and jaw, his skin warm beneath her fingertips.

When he leaned back, Torie sighed softly, trying to catch her breath, but she had no time to. Words seemed pointless and she was relieved at being spared from having to find any. A small gasp met the sensation at her lower lip, lips parting as a shiver ran through her. She pressed closer, needing that reassurance, holding on, trying not to drown in him.