Overhearing the conversation between Quentin and Alec solidified my resolve. I shouldn't get involved with Alec because he clearly has feelings for Lucy and that hurts more than anything. This feeling for Alec was foolish and left me no way out.

Distance would increase the distance of my feelings. At least that was what I told myself repeatedly.

I walked inside the cabin and towards the bedroom. I could hear him following me and I quickened my footsteps. Grasping the door knob, I twisted and slipped inside before closing the door. I could feel him on the other side.

"Grace?" he asked.

I took a deep breath. "What?"

"Can I come in for a sec?"

"I want to be alone. Can we talk later?" I leaned against the door.

This stabbing pain in my heart was another true sign that I have loved a man who didn't feel the same. I placed a hand over my chest as if it could ease the pain vibrating from it.

Alec stood behind the door for a few more seconds before I heard his retreating footsteps. I released the breath I didn't realize I was holding and slid down onto the wood floor. I hugged my knees to my chest and propped my chin on top.

When did I start falling in love with Alec?

I don't know when exactly, but I know when I started looking at him differently.

When I was eleven, I received an invitation to attend a classmate's birthday and because it was my first I insisted on going. As usual, Lucy, Kian, and Alec tagged along. Although Alec and Kian were two years older than us, they have always acted like our defenders.

The party was held in the classmate's backyard. Everyone was enjoying the shows and surprises. There was music and a lot of people swimming in the pool.

I've always had a fear of drowning and never learned how to swim. So, I stood on the edge of the pool and watched others swim.

When I wasn't looking, someone had pushed me into the pool. My feet couldn't touch the bottom of the pool. Fear pushed me to panic and I thrashed in the pool. I prayed someone would see and come save me.

I felt like forever and before I knew it, I was sinking and I was quickly running out of air due to my panic thrashing. My lungs squeezed tightly in my chest and my eyes sting as my vision blurred. I thought for a moment that I might die because no one was watching.

A second later, I saw movement coming towards me. Blinking, I tried to make out the blob of blackness swimming towards me. I didn't see who it was until Alec's face appeared in front of me. His arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me up and above water.

He swam us back to the edge where Kian helped us up.

I still remembered how he looked. His light gray eyes filled with concern and anger. The way his hands cradled my face and him repeatedly asking if I was okay.

It was that moment that changed for me. I didn't see him as a brother or a friend. He was a boy that I liked.

And this feeling only grew throughout the years.

I'm foolish to love and care for someone who doesn't see me. If I could give anything to change how I feel towards him, I would. But the heart desires what it desires.

I don't know how long I sat on the floor until I heard Alec knock again. Maybe I should try harder and not give in to my feelings.

"Come in," I said quietly.

Alec opened the door and our eyes met immediately.

No feelings.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

I nodded before turning my back to him, but unexpectedly, I tripped on the persian rug in my room and went flying. Alec's arms wrapped around my waist and he yanked me to his body. I fell against it with a thump. My hands grabbed onto his biceps instinctively. Our faces were only a hairsbreadth apart.

Dear lord, his eyes were a concrete foundation of smoke with bluish hues. I could see myself through them. Our hearts were beating almost in sync. I licked and pulled in my bottom lips nervously and his eyes dropped to that movement. His midnight tresses falling over his forehead like a school boy.

And my heart responded.

I felt it.

Flying over to him and begging him to take it shamelessly.

I pushed hard on his chest and that was a mistake. We stumbled and before I knew it, I fell all the way back. Alec made a sound of surprise while I yelped. Our sounds followed with an oof and a second later, his lips fell over mine and I stopped breathing.

Both our eyes widened and we both froze.

It was an innocent kiss. One filled with softness and an unannounced visit of brushed skin. A kiss that introduced surprise and sensuality.

I pushed him off me and sat up. He sat next to me. My fingers flew to my lips and I brushed them with my fingertips. It tingled.

"I'm sorry. I was trying to catch you," Alec stumbled.

I peeked in his direction and his face was flushed. I couldn't stop the small smile from appearing on my face. He looked like a school boy who kissed for the first time.

When he saw me smile at him, he broke into a smile and ran a hand through his hair.

"You look like you just had your first kiss," I teased.

His own fingers touched his lips before he shrugged. I connected the dots before looking at him in shock.

"It's your first kiss?"

"I mean, I haven't had time to date. So, yeah, it's my first."

I bit the inside of my lips to stop myself from showing my emotions. Internally, I was happy he had never kissed a girl.

"What about you?" he questioned out of nowhere.

It was my turn to look away sheepishly and Alec chuckled.

"Can we even call this a first kiss?" he asked in doubt.

I looked in his direction and wished I could correct our first kiss. If it was truly our first kiss, I wanted to kiss him more than just a brush of our lips.

"I don't know." I looked away. "It was an accident. I don't think we would call it a first kiss. I think a kiss would involve more than a few seconds of lips touching. We could agree to say it wasn't and save our first kiss for someone who we like."

As soon as the words passed my lips, I regretted it. I didn't want him kissing anyone else. I wanted him to kiss me. I wanted to correct this moment and kiss him passionately on the lips.

When Alec didn't answer me, I turned to see him looking at me with an unreadable expression. I raised an eyebrow in question.

"What if we try it again?"

I blinked as I waited for the words to sink in. Did he really ask that?

He shook his head and turned away. "Never mind. Forget-"

My right hand shot up and stopped him from turning away. His eyes met mine and before he could back out of it. I leaned in and kissed him on the lips. The moment I pulled his bottom lips in between my lips. I felt his arms wrapped around me. My hands moved to settle on his neck.

Cautiously, I felt his tongue brushed against the seams of my lips and I parted them. His tongue delved in and brushed against mine and he pulled me closer to him. I moved to straddle him and the kiss deepened.

This kiss was no longer innocent. An inconceivable hunger clouded my mind and all I could think about was his lips and taste. I wanted more. He groaned when I sucked on his tongue and boldly swept my tongue inside to tangle with his.

Suddenly, I felt one of his hands running through the roots of my hair at the back of my neck. He was controlling the kiss. Embolden, he angled my head slightly and deepened the kiss even more. Not once, we broke the kiss for air and a desire stirred deep inside my belly.

I should stop the kiss.

With that thought, I yanked back pushing against his shoulders to give us distance. Breathing heavily, His eyes were heavy and filled with apparent desire. For a minute, neither of us moved. Our position changed quickly and I thought back to how he had tasted. I licked my lips and still tasted him on them. His gaze dropped to my lips again and I hear his breath hitch.

"Now, that's a kiss," I whispered shakily. I forced a smile on my face and he smirked.

"Yeah, a mind-blowing one."

I got off his lap and stood up. He stood up and I saw him adjust the dent in his pants.

Did I give him that? It was almost unbelievable.

Kissing him was unbelievable. What happened? Then guilt sets in. He has a crush on Lucy even if he didn't tell me. I shouldn't have kissed him.

"That shouldn't have happened," I mumbled and turned away.

One hand shoots out and grabs my elbow. He spins me around.

"Why?"

"Because it shouldn't have. From now on, we should keep our distance." His eyes narrow on me and I look away.

He looked like he wanted to say something, but when he blinked it was gone. His shoulders slackened and facial expression slackened.

"I cooked us lunch. Let's eat. I have a few things I wanted to discuss with you."

We walked into the kitchen and I saw that Alec had made us both sandwiches. There was a bag of barbecue chips between the two plates of sandwiches. He also put two water bottles next to the plates. He led me to a stool to sit down before sitting down next to me.

"Luckily, Quentin stocked up on some food. We'll eat what he has and run into town if necessary."

I picked up my sandwich and took a bite. I felt some mayo on my lips and I darted my tongue out to lick as much as I could. When I felt like there were some more, I used the back of my thumb to wipe it off.

"Good?" Alec was eyeing me eat.

I nodded my head shyly before taking another bite.

"What did you want to talk to me about?"

"I wanted to see if we could try harvesting your powers again."

I don't mind it, actually. I've been wanting to try again after last night. If I could develop power, it might help Alec and I survive whatever was coming after us.

"I'm fine with that," I replied.

Alec smiled before nodding his head. He picked up his own sandwich and demolished it in as little as five bites. I looked at him in surprise before turning to look at my two bite sandwich. He laughed at my reaction.