Chapter 153 - 154: The Kiss

Chapter 153: Chapter 154: The Kiss

Daniel leaned in with his heart pounding against his ribs and his mind racing with a thousand thoughts that all dissolved into nothing the moment his lips touched hers, and the kiss was soft and gentle and tentative in the way that first kisses always are, like two people standing at the edge of something vast and unknown and deciding to step forward together.

Then it deepened.

Daniel’s hand moved to her cheek and cupped it gently and tilted her head and kissed her deeper with the kind of quiet confidence that made Lyra’s knees feel weak and her thoughts scatter like leaves in a storm.

Lyra’s eyes fluttered closed and she leaned into him and pressed against him and kissed him back with everything she had, pouring all the confusion and fear and hope and longing of the past weeks into a single moment of connection.

The wagon was silent.

Fluffy’s mouth was open and her eyes were wide and her tail was frozen mid-twitch.

Mittens’s face was red and she looked away and then back and then away again because she didn’t know where to look or what to do with her hands or how to process what she was seeing.

Cheeky’s face was red and she stared at the ground and didn’t know where to look because she had never seen anything like this before and didn’t know how to react.

Paul’s mouth was open and his eyes were wide and he looked like he had just seen a ghost or a miracle or both at once.

Brick Head was grinning a wide and stupid grin that suggested he was enjoying this more than anyone.

The kiss continued.

It was long and slow and passionate in the way that kisses are when two people have been circling each other for weeks and have finally stopped pretending they don’t want this.

Daniel’s hand moved from her cheek to her hair and tangled his fingers in it and pulled her closer.

Lyra’s hands moved to his chest and clutched his shirt and pulled him closer.

They kissed like they had been waiting for this and wanting this and needing this, and the world outside the wagon ceased to exist.

It was a long kiss, a very long kiss, a kiss that seemed to last forever and yet not long enough.

Then they pulled apart.

They were breathing hard and their faces were flushed and their eyes were bright with something that looked like wonder.

Daniel looked at Lyra, at her red face and her wide eyes and her trembling lips. "That was..." he started.

"Amazing," she whispered.

"Yeah. Amazing."

She smiled a real and happy smile. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For the kiss."

"You’re welcome."

Everyone was looking at them.

Fluffy’s mouth was still open and her eyes were still wide. "Master kissed pretty lady," she said.

"Yes," Daniel said.

"Master kissed pretty lady on the lips."

"Yes."

"Fluffy wants to kiss Master too."

The wagon went silent.

Daniel’s eyes widened. "What?"

"Fluffy wants to kiss Master. Like pretty lady did."

"Fluffy, you can’t—"

"Why not?"

"Because... because you’re too small."

Fluffy tilted her head. "Fluffy is not small. Fluffy is Fluffy."

"I know. But you’re... you’re not old enough."

"Fluffy is old enough."

"You’re not."

"Fluffy is."

Daniel sighed and looked at Lyra who was trying not to laugh. "Help," he whispered.

Lyra shook her head. "You’re on your own."

Daniel looked at Paul who was also trying not to laugh. "Help," Daniel whispered again.

Paul shook his head. "Nope."

Daniel looked at Cheeky who was looking away and trying not to laugh, and at Mittens who was doing the same, and at Brick Head who was grinning and not trying to hide it at all.

"This is not funny," Daniel said.

"It’s hilarious," Brick Head said.

Fluffy was still waiting. "Master," she said. "Can Fluffy kiss you?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because you’re too small."

"Fluffy is not too small."

"You are."

"Fluffy is not."

Daniel sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Fluffy," he said. "Kissing is for grown-ups. You’re not a grown-up."

"Fluffy is a grown-up."

"You’re not."

"Fluffy is."

"You’re not!"

"Fluffy is!"

Daniel groaned and looked at Lyra who was laughing now and couldn’t help it. "This is your fault," he said.

Lyra blinked. "My fault?"

"Yes. You kissed me. Now Fluffy wants to kiss me."

"I didn’t tell her to kiss you."

"But you set the example."

"I didn’t set any example."

"You did."

"I didn’t."

"You did."

Lyra sighed and looked at Fluffy. "Fluffy," she said. "You can’t kiss Daniel."

Fluffy tilted her head. "Why not?"

"Because... because he’s mine."

The wagon went silent.

Lyra’s face went red because she hadn’t meant to say that.

Daniel stared at her with wide eyes. "What?" he whispered.

Lyra looked away with her face burning. "I... I didn’t mean..."

"You said I’m yours."

"I... I meant..."

"You said I’m yours."

"I... I..."

Daniel smiled a warm and gentle smile. "I’m yours," he said.

Lyra looked at him with wet eyes. "You are?"

"Yes."

She smiled a real and happy smile. "Okay," she whispered. "Okay."

Fluffy was still confused. "But Fluffy wants to kiss Master," she said.

"You can’t," Lyra said.

"Why not?"

"Because... because it’s not allowed."

"Why not?"

"Because... because..."

Lyra looked at Daniel and Daniel looked at Lyra and they both looked at Fluffy.

"Because it’s just not," Daniel said.

Fluffy’s ears drooped. "Okay."

She looked at Mittens. "Mittens," she said. "Fluffy will kiss you."

Mittens’s face went red. "What?"

"Fluffy will kiss Mittens."

"But... but..."

"It’s okay. Fluffy likes Mittens."

"But... but..."

Mittens looked at the others with wide eyes. "Help," she whispered.

Daniel shook his head. "You’re on your own."

Paul shook his head. "Nope."

Cheeky shook her head. "Sorry."

Brick Head grinned. "Go for it!"

Mittens’s face went redder. "No!"

Fluffy tilted her head. "Why not?"

"Because... because..."

"Because what?"

"Because... because I’m not... because we’re not..."

"We’re not what?"

"We’re not... we’re not..."

Mittens didn’t know what to say and looked at the others and then at Daniel. "Help," she whispered again.

Daniel sighed and looked at Fluffy. "Fluffy," he said.

Fluffy looked at him. "Yes, Master?"

"You can’t kiss Mittens."

"Why not?"

"Because... because it’s not allowed."

"Why not?"

"Because... because..."

Daniel didn’t know what to say and looked at Lyra who was laughing again. "Help," he whispered.

Lyra shook her head. "You’re on your own."

Daniel groaned and looked at Fluffy. "Fluffy," he said. "You can’t kiss anyone."

Fluffy’s ears drooped. "Anyone?"

"Anyone."

"Not even Master?"

"Not even Master."

"Not even Mittens?"

"Not even Mittens."

Fluffy’s tail drooped. "Okay."

She sat back with sadness in her eyes but understanding in her heart.

Brick Head spoke with excitement in his voice. "I want to kiss someone," he said.

The wagon went silent.

Everyone looked at him.

"Who?" Daniel asked.

Brick Head looked at Daniel and his grin widened.

Daniel’s eyes widened. "No."

"Why not?"

"Because I’m not gay."

"That’s okay. I’m not either."

"Then why do you want to kiss me?"

"Because you’re the leader. And leaders deserve kisses."

"That’s not how it works."

"It is."

"It’s not."

"It is."

Daniel groaned and looked at Paul. "Help," he whispered.

Paul shook his head. "Nope."

Daniel looked at Cheeky who shook her head. "Sorry."

Daniel looked at Mittens who shook her head. "No."

Daniel looked at Lyra who was laughing. "Help," he whispered.

Lyra shook her head. "You’re on your own."

Daniel sighed and looked at Brick Head. "Brick Head," he said.

Brick Head looked at him. "Yes?"

"You can’t kiss me."

"Why not?"

"Because I’m not gay."

"That’s okay. I’m not either."

"Then why do you want to kiss me?"

"Because you’re the leader. And leaders deserve kisses."

"That’s not how it works."

"It is."

"It’s not."

"It is."

Daniel groaned again and looked at Paul. "Paul," he said. "Brick Head wants to kiss you."

Paul’s eyes widened. "What?"

Brick Head looked at Paul and his grin widened. "Paul," he said. "Can I kiss you?"

Paul shifted away. "No."

"Why not?"

"Because I’m not gay."

"That’s okay. I’m not either."

"Then why do you want to kiss me?"

"Because you’re my friend. And friends deserve kisses."

"That’s not how it works."

"It is."

"It’s not."

"It is."

Paul groaned and looked at Cheeky. "Cheeky," he said. "Brick Head wants to kiss you."

Cheeky’s eyes widened. "What?"

Brick Head looked at Cheeky and his grin widened. "Cheeky," he said. "Can I kiss you?"

Cheeky looked away and tried to act like she couldn’t see him.

"Cheeky," Brick Head said. "Can you hear me?"

Cheeky didn’t answer and just stared at the wall.

"Cheeky," Brick Head said again. "Can I kiss you?"

Cheeky still didn’t answer and just stared at the wall.

Brick Head tilted his head. "Is she deaf?"

"No," Daniel said. "She’s ignoring you."

"Why?"

"Because she doesn’t want to kiss you."

"Why not?"

"Because she’s not interested."

"That’s okay. I’m not either."

"Then why do you want to kiss her?"

"Because she’s my friend. And friends deserve kisses."

"That’s not how it works."

"It is."

"It’s not."

"It is."

Daniel sighed and looked at the others with their wide eyes and their open mouths. "This is the weirdest game we’ve ever played," he said.

They nodded in agreement.

The wagon stopped.

Everyone looked at each other with confusion in their eyes.

Aldric’s voice echoed through the caravan. "Alright! We’re here! Everyone out!"

Daniel looked out the window and saw a large gate made of iron and tall and imposing, and beyond the gate there was a building that was massive and grand and the guild registration site.

He smiled a warm and genuine smile. "We’re here," he said.