ISOLDE

His arm came around me so suddenly that I barely had time to breathe. One moment I stood there, staring at him, the air thick and still like the final breath before a storm.

Next, I was pressed against his bare chest as if he feared I’d vanish if he loosened his grip even a little. His skin burned against mine. The heat of him felt like a living thing. My breath caught.

“F-Finnan… are you angry at me?” My voice came out small, barely mine.

He stared at me, not just at my ...