I kissed Elise again before she could say anything else.
Whatever she'd been thinking about Reid was still there. I knew it. I could feel enough through the bond to know the sadness hadn't disappeared just because I'd put my mouth on hers.
I didn't want to argue with it.
I wanted her attention back on me.
My hand went around the back of her neck, and I pulled her closer, kissing her harder until she stopped sitting so carefully beside me and turned into me instead.
One second she was beside me; the next I had her on her back beneath the warm golden light from the garden posts, her long dress spread across the grass around her. The night was warm, insects buzzing somewhere.
Elise looked up at me.
There was still something sad in her face.
"Rhys."
"What?"
"You're doing that thing."
"What thing?"
"Trying to distract me."
"Is it working?"
Her mouth curved into a smile. That was enough.
I kissed her again.
