Tangled In Time

Secret Keepers

Blake's hand lingered on my cheek, his touch searing into my skin as the weight of our unspoken desires hung in the fragile stillness between us.

"I know you can't stay. Even though I would do anything for you to, I knew before I came here to tell you how I felt. I wouldn't expect you to stay, even though I would want you to I know you need to go home." Blake closed any remaining gap between us.

The warmth radiating from his hand sent ripples through me, and I could feel tears starting to well in my eyes again, a mix of longing and sorrow swirling in my chest. Blake's thumb continued to stroke my cheek tenderly, his gaze unwavering as he searched my eyes for any hint of uncertainty. His scent—a faint trace of cedar and something uniquely him—wrapped around me, grounding me in the present even as my thoughts raced.

Why did this have to feel so impossibly right when everything about it was wrong?

Despite the ache in my heart, I found solace in the warmth of his touch, in the depths of understanding reflected in his eyes. His lips drew closer until they gently grazed mine.

The soft touch of Blake's lips against mine sent a shiver down my spine, igniting a warmth within me that I had tried so desperately to suppress. My breath hitched, the sensation both exhilarating and terrifying. The world around us seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of us suspended in time. His hand slid further into my hair, his fingers tangling gently in the curls as though he was anchoring himself to me. The faint rasp of his breath against my skin sent tiny sparks dancing along my nerves.

My mind waged a quiet war as his lips moved against mine, tender yet insistent. Part of me wanted to pull away, to remind myself of the inevitability of my departure, but another part—an undeniable, selfish part—wanted to stay in this moment forever.

As our lips eventually parted, Blake pulled away to look at my face, his hands still cradling my cheeks as though I might vanish if he let go. "I've wanted to do that for a very long time," he said, his voice low and his eyes glistening, a smile playing along his lips. His thumb moved over my lips, the sensation so delicate it sent a new wave of warmth surging through me. My heart pounded so loudly I was certain he could hear it.

Before I could respond, he kissed me again. The first kiss had been tentative, testing the fragile boundary between us, but this time was deeper, his hands smoothing my hair with a reverence that made my knees feel weak. I let myself sink into the moment, my hands finding their way to his chest, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath my fingertips. It matched my own, wild and unsteady.

As our lips eventually parted again, I took a small step back, a shy smile spreading across my face, my fingers instinctively moving to my lips. They still tingled from the contact, as if his touch had left an indelible mark.

A rush of thoughts collided in my mind, but one stood out above the rest: How could something so fleeting feel so impossibly permanent?

As I looked up at Blake, I knew I needed to tell him what I had discovered. My heart swelled as I looked into his eyes. I sighed inwardly, reluctant to spoil the mood, and although I was reluctant to pull away, I was glad I had taken a step back, or else I was worried I would never tell him of what I had discovered. I'd not seen him like this, even though he had always been caring towards me, there was always a sharp finish to him.

"Shall we sit down?" The words came out soft and just above a whisper as I moved towards the sofa and sat down.

Blake sat down beside me, his hand reaching for mine. A sense of unease settled in the cottage. Blake's face, once radiant with affection and happiness, fell slightly, a touch of concern shadowing his features. His grip tightened ever so slightly on my hand, as though bracing himself for what I was about to say.