Zoe POV

His mouth finds mine again, softer this time—the difference between the first kiss, which had the urgency of something long-held finally released, and this one, which has more patience in it, more intention. His hand moves into my hair and stays there, fingers working slow and gentle through the tangles the cell has given me, and I feel the tension in my shoulders do something it hasn't done in days.

I tilt my head up and kiss him back. Properly. Without the weight of ...