The unfinished kiss was a siren that stretched between them wantonly, and James tried to shake it off. But he felt heat in the oval hollow between their clasped palms, and stroked the delicate skin of her wrist with his thumb. She looked up at him, her eyes both trusting and afraid. He raised her hand to his lips, kissed her knuckles.A faint smile turned the corners of her red mouth, and she looked away. Shook her head and he was sure it was at herself. “Hey,” he said. “It’s not imaginary.”For a moment she held his gaze, then looked toward the arriving car. “Here’s our ride.”They settled inside, side by side. James moved close, slid an arm around her shoulders. Her hair brushed his arm, light and soft as fur. Amused by the thought, he picked up a lock and rubbed it between his fingers, wondering what kind of animal she would be. Something rare and skittish. A red fox, shy and soft, given beauty by her pelt. He smiled to himself, and at that moment, she looked up again.Their eyes caught.
