Tesse looked at his arm. She looked at the path ahead, winding into the winter trees. She knew she should go back. She knew she should rescue Julian.
But she didn't want to.
She slipped her arm through his. "Ten minutes."
"Deal."
They walked in silence for a while, the only sound the wind in the branches. It wasn't the awkward silence of the car. It was a companionable silence, heavy with unspoken words.
"Do you remember the day you confessed to me?" Valor asked suddenly.
Tesse flinched. "Please don't."
"I do," he continued, ignoring her. "I remember you were wearing a blue sweater. You were shaking. I was such an idiot. I was so wrapped up in being 'The President,' in being the guy everyone wanted me to be and on Tia, that I didn't see what was standing right in front of me."
"It was a long time ago, Valor," Tesse said, looking at her boots. "We were kids."
"I wasn't a kid," Valor said. "I was a coward. And then, when you stopped looking at me... when you turned cold... that's when I realized."
He stopped walking. They had reached a small stone bridge over a frozen creek. He turned to face her, taking both of her gloved hands in his.
"I realized that I didn't want the applause," he said intenseley. "I wanted the quiet. I wanted the girl who knew I hated public speaking but did it anyway. I wanted the girl who brought me strawberry milk."
"I told you," Tesse whispered, her heart pounding so hard it hurt. "I'm lactose intolerant."
"Liar," Valor smiled softly. "I saw you eating cheese at dinner last night. You're a terrible liar, Tesse. You lie about the milk. You lie about the red velvet cake. And you're lying about Julian."
Tesse tried to pull her hands away, but he held them fast.
"I'm not—"
"You are," he insisted, stepping closer. "Because when he touches you, you don't lean in. You flinch. But right now?"
He let go of one of her hands and slid it up her arm, resting it on her shoulder, his thumb grazing the pulse point of her neck.
"Right now, you're leaning in."
He was right. She was. Her body was betraying her, drawn to his warmth like a moth to a flame.
"Valor, we can't," Tesse pleaded, though her voice lacked conviction. "Our parents. The family. It's... it's wrong."
"Is it?" Valor asked. He moved his hand to cup her cheek. His skin was warm against the cold air. "My dad told me something last night."
Tesse blinked. "What?"
"He told me that there is no blood between us," Valor murmured, his eyes dropping to her lips. "He told me that the only thing stopping us is fear. And I'm done being afraid, Tesse."
"He said that?" Tesse breathed, shocked.
"He said he just wants us to be happy," Valor said. He lowered his head, his forehead resting against hers. "Are you happy, Tesse? Are you happy pretending I'm just your brother?"
"No," she whispered. The truth slipped out before she could catch it.
"Then stop pretending," he growled softly.
He tilted her head back. Tesse's breath hitched. The world narrowed down to the grey of his eyes, the smell of cedar, and the heat radiating from his chest.
He brushed his lips against hers—a feather-light touch, a question.
Tesse didn't pull away. She closed her eyes, her hands clutching the lapels of his shearling jacket. She parted her lips, inviting him in, surrendering to the inevitable gravity that had been pulling them together for years.
Valor made a sound low in his throat, a rumble of triumph and need. He shifted his grip to the back of her head, angling for a deeper kiss, ready to claim the moment he had lost two years ago.
"VALOR! TESSE!"
The shriek shattered the moment like a hammer hitting glass.
They sprang apart, chests heaving, eyes wide.
Down the path, stumbling through the snow, came Tia. She was holding a bag of nuts and looking frantic. Behind her, Julian was trudging along, looking apologetic and exhausted.
"There you are!" Tia yelled, waving. "We've been looking everywhere! Julian dropped his nuts in the snow and then we got lost!"
Valor closed his eyes and let out a long, frustrated groan. He looked at Tesse. His lips were swollen, his eyes dark with unfulfilled desire.
"Unbelievable," he muttered.
Tesse stood there, her heart racing, her face flushed crimson. She looked at Valor, then at Tia approaching like a storm cloud of chaos.
"We almost..." Tesse whispered, touching her lips.
"We aren't done," Valor said, his voice low and promising. He grabbed her hand again, squeezing it hard. "Not by a long shot. Let them come. Let them talk. I don't care anymore."
Tia reached them, breathless. "Why did you guys run off? That was so rude! Valor, you promised to walk with me!"
"I promised nothing, Tia," Valor said coldly, not letting go of Tesse's hand.
Julian caught up, panting. He looked at Tesse, then at Valor, then at their joined hands. He saw the flush on Tesse's cheeks and the predatory set of Valor's jaw.
Julian smiled a small, knowing smile. He winked at Tesse.
"Sorry," Julian said. "I tried to stall her. She's... persistent."
"It's okay," Tesse said, her voice shaky. She looked up at Valor.
Valor looked down at her, ignoring Tia's chatter entirely.
"Let's go home," Valor said to Tesse. "We have a lot to talk about."
And as they walked back toward the lights of the festival, with Tia complaining in the background and Julian humming a tune, Tesse didn't pull her hand away. For the first time in forever, she didn't want to run. She just wanted to see what would happen if she finally stood still.