Page 157 of Split or Swallow

Tem sighed.

“I don’t know, Leo. I’m not sure anything you do would change that.”

There was another silence, and in it, Leo reached for her, touching the tips of his fingers to her waist.

“I’d like to try.”

The place where he touched her was warm.

“Then tell me the truth,” she whispered.

“About what?”

“Your intentions.”

Leo tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

Tem gestured at the carving on the tree.

“Are you only pursuing me because you know it will anger your father? Or do you really want me?”

Leo didn’t answer at first. When he did, his voice was soft:

“Both.”

She knew it was the truth.

“I don’t like being used, Leo,” Tem said quietly.

She expected him to reply right away.

Instead he stepped closer, raising his other hand to cup her face gently in his palm. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and she thought he might kiss her. Instead he brushed the tip of his thumb over her bottom lip, so gently she barely felt it, so slowly an eternity passed by the time his finger trailed from one side to the other.

When it was over, Leo whispered:

“Did you like that?”

He was barely an inch away.

“Yes,” Tem whispered back.

Leo smiled. “That’s a start.”

“Leo…”

But she couldn’t finish. She couldn’t possibly tell him that she still didn’t trust him—not now, not when they were standing by the bench where he had sat with the first girl he ever loved, not when he had finally chosen to be vulnerable with her. Not when Tem was keeping so many secrets herself. So instead she took his hand in hers, intertwining her fingers with his.

They stood together, hands clasped, the graveyard silent around them.

Tem didn’t know how long they stayed there. It was bitterly cold by the time they left, and Leo took off his cloak, moving to place it over her shoulders.

Tem waved him away.

“But you’re shivering,” Leo said quietly.

“Then I’ll shiver.”

Hurt flashed across Leo’s face.