Taking the leap felt appropriate. Only it wasn’t just a short hop. It was a full plunge off a cliff.

Some crushes just never went away. They built, instead, into something permanent, obsessive and all consuming.

Said to Mairin; "There's little decency to good loving" Maddie said. "If 'tis decent, it isn't much fun"!

Perhaps I’m tired of waiting for something I may never find.

What are the two of you whispering about?” Alaric demanded irritably. She glanced over to see the warrior watching her, his eyes narrow with suspicion. “If I wanted you to know, I’d have spoken louder,” she said calmly. He turned away muttering what she was sure were more blasphemies about annoying females. “You must make the priest weary with the length of your confessions,” she said. He raised one eyebrow. “Who says I confess anything?

He inhaled her scent, uncaring of the blood and dirt and grime that permeated her hair and clothing. He was holding her. Finally holding her. “You’re real. You’re real.” She pulled away, looked up at him, the same answering emotion shining in her blue eyes. With a groan, he lowered his mouth to hers. He couldn’t hold back. Nothing in the world would have kept him from kissing her in that moment. He was overcome.

If you don’t stay away from her I’ll rearrange that pretty face of yours. - Simon