wanton smile
The foolish boy they wish to beguile.
Burn the image in your heart and mind
Of true love’s kiss, and surely you’ll find
The strength and the will and the power to keep
The promise you made so your love would not weep.
Josh trembled as the most powerful flashback yet consumed him. It played like a movie projected in his mind, but he felt everything as if he were living it in the moment.
His heart pounds as he pulls off the road. The scent of rain, pine and asphalt tickles his nose when he opens the door. The car’s engine ticks as it cools. He slams the door and flies towards Channie. Icy water sloshes into his shoes and soaks the hem of his jeans, but he barely notices the cold.
Channie’s a mess. Dirt streaks her face. Leaves and twigs stick out of her hair, but she’s never looked more beautiful to him. Tears stream down both their faces as their bodies crash together.
He picks her up and swings her around then lets her slide down his body as he lowers her feet to the ground. He cups her cheeks in his palms, expecting the skin to skin contact to trigger the curse and set them both on fire, but it doesn’t. All he feels is smooth, soft skin. He tilts her head to the side and leans in. The world stops spinning when his lips meet hers. Time ceases to exist. Magic flows around and through them as they kiss. She tastes like lavender and honey. Salt and sunshine. He should be consumed with lust but all he feels is love.
A disembodied voice whispers, “ Break Chastity’s curse and lose your power; watch love bloom and passion flower. For every choice there is a cost and the things you lose are forever lost. You have until the full moon sets to bind your hearts with no regrets .”
His heart breaks. He’s already made his choice. He gave up his Olympic dreams when he left Grands without finishing the race. And he’d do it again. But he’d never ask Channie to give up magic.
She gazes into his eyes. “I choose you.”
~***~
Josh pressed both hands over his heart. The light and the memory were already fading. Please. If I can only remember one thing, let it be this.
The light from his chest flared so brightly it blinded him. When his vision returned, so did the memory of that perfect, curse-breaking kiss and Channie’s sacrifice. He licked his lips and still tasted her. “I remember.”
“What?” Kassie reached across the table and grabbed Josh’s hand. “What do you remember?”
Josh blinked, but his vision was still blurry. He wiped his eyes then stared at the tears on his fingertips.
“I remember…” Although the kiss he’d shared with Channie was completely chaste; it was far too intimate to share with anyone else. “I remember finding Channie in Oklahoma.”
Hunter’s grin split his face. He grabbed the back of Josh’s neck and gave it a squeeze. “That’s great! What else do you remember?”
Josh’s own smile widened even as his heart ached for Channie. “I remember what she looks like. And she’s even more beautiful than her photo.”
Kassie folded her arms across her chest. “That’s nice. But more importantly, do you remember how you feel about her?”
“I don’t remember how we met or fell in love. But I know that we did and that what I’ve felt all along is real. Even when I couldn’t remember her at all, my heart never forgot.” He’d do anything for her. He’d crawl to Arkansas on his hands and knees if he had to. He’d learn to use magic. And he’d curse anyone that got in his way. He’d lay down his own life to save hers. Josh swallowed twice before he trusted his voice not to break. “I love her. I love Channie Belks with all my heart.”
Kassie rolled her eyes. “You don’t love Channie Belks.”
“Why would you say that?”
She smiled at Josh. “Because you love Channie Abrim .”
Josh’s heart leapt into his throat. He still believed they were too young for the responsibilities of marriage. But the knowledge that Channie
The foolish boy they wish to beguile.
Burn the image in your heart and mind
Of true love’s kiss, and surely you’ll find
The strength and the will and the power to keep
The promise you made so your love would not weep.
Josh trembled as the most powerful flashback yet consumed him. It played like a movie projected in his mind, but he felt everything as if he were living it in the moment.
His heart pounds as he pulls off the road. The scent of rain, pine and asphalt tickles his nose when he opens the door. The car’s engine ticks as it cools. He slams the door and flies towards Channie. Icy water sloshes into his shoes and soaks the hem of his jeans, but he barely notices the cold.
Channie’s a mess. Dirt streaks her face. Leaves and twigs stick out of her hair, but she’s never looked more beautiful to him. Tears stream down both their faces as their bodies crash together.
He picks her up and swings her around then lets her slide down his body as he lowers her feet to the ground. He cups her cheeks in his palms, expecting the skin to skin contact to trigger the curse and set them both on fire, but it doesn’t. All he feels is smooth, soft skin. He tilts her head to the side and leans in. The world stops spinning when his lips meet hers. Time ceases to exist. Magic flows around and through them as they kiss. She tastes like lavender and honey. Salt and sunshine. He should be consumed with lust but all he feels is love.
A disembodied voice whispers, “ Break Chastity’s curse and lose your power; watch love bloom and passion flower. For every choice there is a cost and the things you lose are forever lost. You have until the full moon sets to bind your hearts with no regrets .”
His heart breaks. He’s already made his choice. He gave up his Olympic dreams when he left Grands without finishing the race. And he’d do it again. But he’d never ask Channie to give up magic.
She gazes into his eyes. “I choose you.”
~***~
Josh pressed both hands over his heart. The light and the memory were already fading. Please. If I can only remember one thing, let it be this.
The light from his chest flared so brightly it blinded him. When his vision returned, so did the memory of that perfect, curse-breaking kiss and Channie’s sacrifice. He licked his lips and still tasted her. “I remember.”
“What?” Kassie reached across the table and grabbed Josh’s hand. “What do you remember?”
Josh blinked, but his vision was still blurry. He wiped his eyes then stared at the tears on his fingertips.
“I remember…” Although the kiss he’d shared with Channie was completely chaste; it was far too intimate to share with anyone else. “I remember finding Channie in Oklahoma.”
Hunter’s grin split his face. He grabbed the back of Josh’s neck and gave it a squeeze. “That’s great! What else do you remember?”
Josh’s own smile widened even as his heart ached for Channie. “I remember what she looks like. And she’s even more beautiful than her photo.”
Kassie folded her arms across her chest. “That’s nice. But more importantly, do you remember how you feel about her?”
“I don’t remember how we met or fell in love. But I know that we did and that what I’ve felt all along is real. Even when I couldn’t remember her at all, my heart never forgot.” He’d do anything for her. He’d crawl to Arkansas on his hands and knees if he had to. He’d learn to use magic. And he’d curse anyone that got in his way. He’d lay down his own life to save hers. Josh swallowed twice before he trusted his voice not to break. “I love her. I love Channie Belks with all my heart.”
Kassie rolled her eyes. “You don’t love Channie Belks.”
“Why would you say that?”
She smiled at Josh. “Because you love Channie Abrim .”
Josh’s heart leapt into his throat. He still believed they were too young for the responsibilities of marriage. But the knowledge that Channie
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