A Life Of 'Shine - Lem Fike

45

Kieran hesitated but he slowly leaned in, reciprocating the kiss.
He stood stiff, his hands hovering just over her arms as he was unsure if it were suitable to place them anywhere else.

Her arms slowly wrapped around his kneck, he took this as invitation to hold onto her waist and pull her as close as possible; keeping her close enough as if she would disappear if he let go.

"Nora." He whispered breathlessly, moving far enough away so he would be able to speak with her. His hands were still on her hips, forehead now resting against her head. She gently opened her eyes, looking into his own.

"You alright?" She asked, the remains of a smile still on her face as she thought back to that glorious and unexpected moment. He nodded, his words lost too him.

"Of course." He chuckled, leaning in for one more kiss. She smiled back, pulling him against her body as she kissed back. This one didn't last as long and they had pulled apart as soon as it started.

"As much as I'd love to stay here, like this I really gotta go."

"You don't have too, ya know." He joked, but there was that tiny hint of seriousness behind it and he would most certainly not object to her staying behind- neither would the others.

She smiled, her fingers finding a way to wrap around his own. They were hidden from the other's, meaning she could do anything she liked here away from prying eyes, especially those of her brother's who would relentlessly tease both her and Kieran if they saw.

"I'm going to warn you, don't tell Cripps or my brother's about this- they ain't gonna take it too kindly, Lem too." She sighed, dropping her head low. His free hand ran through her hair, gently brushing it away from her face.

"It's not that I'm ashamed- don't think that. They just, they'll use this as an excuse to pick on you, too irritate you an' I wouldn't want you to go through that shit."

"I understand, 'course." She smiled, grateful that he didn't take things as she didn't intend to explain them.

"Thank you." She hummed, slowly stepping back from him. Now they weren't so closed and pressed together she noticed how red his face was, his ears also dusted a soft pink shade. Possibly from being flustered and she would be lying if she said her cheeks weren't now red.

"I should head back to camp- Beanz is there ya know."

"Still can't believe you named your horse that." He laughed, brief but there and she in turn tried suppressing a few giggles of her own.

"Yes well, he's definitely a Beanz I do have other horses with "normal" names." She used air quotes on her words, shrugging slightly after talking for no reason entirely.

"And those are what? Strawberry or Peaches I guess?"

"No." She rolled her eyes, gently taking his arm in her's before guiding him back towards the camp. "Her name is actually Gwenllian, after my mother."

"Gwenllian?" Kieran tried copying, although the welsh pronunciation wasn't as strong as Nora said- then again Nora had by far spoken a lot more Welsh than he had, it came more naturally too her.

"Yes, my mother's second name actually. Her first name, I ain't sure of, unfortunately. But I remember that I would laugh at her middle name when I was younger."

"What happened to your parents?" The question was blunt and he did not intend to pry into her life, he also didn't mean for the startled expression she passed him.

"I'm sorry- I shouldn't have asked."

"I don't really know what happened to them, that or I denied it long enough to forget."