The salt-kissed breeze swept across the North Carolina marsh, tangling Kya's unruly hair as she stood on the edge of the world. The sun dipped low, casting a golden hue over the water, and she felt the pull of something beyond the horizon—a longing she couldn't name.
Tate approached, his footsteps soft on the damp earth. He held out a feather—a simple gift, yet laden with unspoken promises. Kya took it, her fingers brushing against his. Feathers had become their language—the silent whispers of two souls entwined.
"Kya," Tate said, his voice low, "I've been wanting to do this for a long time."
She looked up, her heart racing. His eyes held a vulnerability she'd never seen before. "What?"
He stepped closer, his breath warm against her cheek. "This."
And then his lips met hers—a kiss that tasted of salt and secrets. The world spun, and for that stolen moment, they were the only two people in existence. Kya's heart soared, and she wondered if this was what it felt like to fly.
Tate pulled away, his forehead resting against hers. "I've wanted to kiss you since the day we met."
She traced the curve of his jaw. "Why didn't you?"
"Because you were just a girl then," he said. "And I was afraid."
"Afraid of what?"
"Of losing you," he confessed. "Of wanting more than I should."
Kya cupped his face. "Tate, I've always wanted more."
He smiled, brushing his thumb over her lips. "You're my marsh girl, Kya. My wild, beautiful mystery."
She leaned in, capturing his mouth again. This kiss was different—urgent, hungry. It held all the unspoken words—the ache of years spent apart, the fear of losing each other, and the promise of something deeper.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, they clung to each other, lost in the whirlwind of emotions. The marsh whispered its approval—the reeds swaying, the water murmuring secrets. And in that tangled moment, Kya knew she'd found her home.
Feathers floated around them, carried by the wind. Each one a promise—a future woven from love and longing. Kya and Tate—their story written in saltwater and kisses.
