After thanking Nana for the Cranachan, we visited a few more places, then head back to the Castle, which was around a thirty-minute drive from the city.

When we arrived, it was almost dinnertime, so we strolled to the dining area. I sat in the same seat between Dolina and Blair, with Neil in front of me. Poor Alistair had to sit away from his fiancée, but he didn’t seem to mind it.

It was my second time having dinner with them, but it felt like I knew them for years. They talked about the coming festival and Fergus coming back and everyone was excited.

No one did or said anything unexpected for me to suspect them. My doubt about Neil also dropped after spending the day with him. It left me wondering if maybe I’m wrong in thinking it was someone from the inside. I must be missing something and couldn’t take a chance. When we were done with the dinner, I requested Dolina to let me sleep in Finlay’s room for the night.

Everyone eyed me weirdly, but I took their reactions as normal. Dolina didn’t mind and agreed to it.

So here I was, standing in the middle of Finlay’s room in my PJs and looking around.

I didn’t think this through.

I couldn’t sleep with him on the bed so I moved towards the couch wrapping my hair in a pony.

“What are you doing?” Finlay observed me as he took a seat on the one-seater sofa near the window.

“Sleeping,” I said in a duh tone and placed the cushions together.

“On the couch?” He tilted his head. “Don’t you think it’ll be uncomfortable?”

“It’s huge...” I gestured towards it with my hand. It was twice the size of the couch I had in my house and it wasn’t like I was giant to not fit in.

“But you can sleep on the bed.” I darted my eyes between ghost Finlay to coma Finlay.

“Uh... I don’t think that will be appropriate.”

“It won’t be since I, the owner of the body, am saying so.”

“Please don’t say that again.” I shivered. “It sounds freaking creepy.”

“Just lay there, Amber.” He gave me a lopsided grin. “Engaged people can sleep together.”

“It’s not like we’re sleeping together.” I paused when Finlay raised his brow. “I-I meant by sleeping as in napping.”

“I know.” I wanted to wipe that cocky smirk off his face, but I couldn’t do it.

Huffing, I sauntered towards the bed, but my steps slowed down. Finlay’s body was in the middle of the huge king-size bed. If I lay in the corner, there will be a lot of space between us, so I guess it was alright. Besides, the guy gave me consent.

• • • • •

“Why are you still awake Amber?” Finlay asked after seeing me tossing and turning on the bed for about an hour.

I couldn’t tell him it was because of him. I’ve never slept in a bed with a guy before. I wasn’t a virgin, but I never did sleepovers. And having Finlay even though he was motionless snoozing next to me made my insides twitch.

“To catch the hoodie guy,” A lame attempt to hide my fuzziness.

“After last night, he won’t come here again.”

“We can’t take any chances,” I mumbled and lay on my left side facing Finlay.

He laid straight on his back, and his chest heaved in slow deep breaths. There was a suitable distance between us, so much that another person could easily fit there. Yet I could feel the heat radiating from his body. My eyes wandered from his messy hair to his closed eyes, trailing his nose and cheeks, then went to his lips.

“Hey, Fin?” I licked my dry lips as I waited for him to answer.

“Hm...” He was still sitting on the same sofa, staring outside. The sofa was towards the left of the bed so I could see his figure.

“You can feel when people touch you, right?” From the corner of my eye, I saw his head turning towards me.

The room was dark and the only source of light was the little lamp on the other side of the room and the moonlight from the window. It was a good thing he couldn’t see my face from his place.

“Aye...” He answered after a long second passed by.

I bit my lip as I extended my hand toward his. I had no idea what I was trying to do, but I haven’t touched him, not even a single time since we met, so watching him this close to me made me want to touch him... just a little touch. When my fingers brushed his hand, I heard a sharp inhale, and it wasn't me.

He felt it.

Deliberately, I caresses my fingers to his palm and lightly squeezed them. His hands looked so firm, yet they were so smooth. I trailed my hand up his arm and stopped at his grey shirt’s short sleeve.

“Why did you stop?” His husky voice from the other side sent an electric spark up my spine.

I felt my breath getting heavy as I placed my knuckles over his cheek and caressed them.

“You remind me of the sleeping beauty.” The words left my mouth before I could even register them.

“Sleeping what?” He got up from the sofa.

“You know the Disney Princess-“

“I know the story, Amber.” He stood on the left side of his body and his stormy eyes focused on my hand over his cheek. “Maybe you should try it.”

“Huh?” I blinked my eyes, not sure what he was talking about.

“You know how the story ends.” His gaze darted from my hand into my wide eyes.

“You want me too...?” I trailed off as fog clouded my brain.

“Kiss me.” He uttered the words like they were no big deal while my heart was hammering in my chest.

“Uh...” I took my hand off his cheek and his face fell. “You know the story. Only true loves kiss-“

“Didn’t you hear Neil?” He flashed me a huge grin. “You are my first love.”

My whole body felt like it was on fire. I hated that only his words impacted me this intensely and wondered what will happen if we-

“Uh yeah...” I internally slapped myself for thinking like that. “I heard him.”

“Then try.”

“We don’t know if it’ll work-“

“There's no harm in trying.” Finlay looked determined, and I was out of excuses to refuse him.

I knew that, and I also knew that kissing him won’t be the same.

“Fine.” I faked a huff even though I was freaking out. “I’ll do it.”

“Don’t sound so disappointed, my dear fiancée.” He teased me.

When I had nothing to respond to him with, I sat up and scooted closer to him. Finlay’s face turned serious, and I averted my gaze from him to the peaceful resting one.

He looks so innocent.

Gulping the lump that was forming in my throat, I placed both my hands on either side of his face and slowly leaned my head. For an instant, I thought his eyes will pop open and he’ll push me away for creeping like this, but nothing happened and I halted when our noses touched.

This is a bad idea. He’s sleeping and doesn’t know what I am doing.

He asked you to do it.

The sleeping one doesn’t know.

They are the same person. Concentrate.

I’m trying, but it’s hard.

You have dreamed about it, so now you have a chance, and you want to stop?

No.

Then do it.

Here goes nothing.

Inhaling a sharp breath, I snapped my eyes shut and dipped my head. My brain exploded when my lips touched his. Soft... Just as I imagined. I whisked my lips against his and I waited for him to respond, but nothing happened. It was just a few seconds pecks, but it was enough to leave me wanting more.

“There.” I sat back in a hurry and glanced at Finlay. “Nothing happened-“ I stopped in my mid-sentence when I saw the place where Finlay was standing just a second ago empty.

Wait...

Don’t tell me...

It worked?

• • • • •

A/N

Fhsjisiaifheussk!

And they kissed! 🙈

Think the kiss will work? 👀