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you?”
    “No,” she said softly. “I don’t know.” She sighed. “I guess I’m not. I wasn’t very good , that’s for sure.”
    He smirked. “Little rulebreaker, were you?”
    “I tried not to be. I tried to do everything right.” She shook her head and muttered, “Maybe I am a nutter.”
    His voice was low. “What happened?”
    Stop talking, she told herself, but the words trickled out. “I kissed his son. Just once, behind the barn while he was away. I knew it was wrong. I don’t think either one of them ever forgave me. And then…” She squeezed her eyes shut. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I couldn’t…. So. Father Speer knew there was something wrong with me after that. Knew there was something rotten and sinful inside me. He wanted to help, but…” She swept her arm out in front of her. “The herd came.”
    “Girly, there ain’t a thing in the world wrong with wanting to kiss someone.”
    “But-”
    “No, listen.” He sat up straighter and leaned forward. The light from the campfire danced in his eyes. “What happened after you kissed that boy? Were you consumed by hellfire? Did lightning strike you down? Did you grow tumors on your body and hair on your ass?”
    She recoiled at his words. “What? No!”
    “Right. Nothing happened. If that minister got mad, that’s on him. That’s his own damn issue. Come here.” He indicated the space next to him.
    “What? Why?”
    “I’m gonna show you. You trust me, right? At least a little? Come sit next to me.”
    She had come to trust him “at least a little,” but she still wasn’t sure why she got up, knees shaking, and settled down at his side. Curiosity was another thing that got her into trouble.
    “Now look,” he said, “I’m gonna sit on my hands, so you know I ain’t gonna try anything.” He was sitting cross-legged, and he tucked them beneath his thighs. “Now. Kiss me.”
    She flinched. “No way!”
    “C’mon. Just lean on in and do it.”
    “Are you crazy?” She leaned away.
    “I’m proving that nothing bad’ll happen. Don’t be scared.” He smirked. “The idea’s in your head now, anyway. When a zombie bites your head off tomorrow, you’re gonna be thinking ‘gee I sure wish I’d kissed that handsome bastard.’ So c’mon.”
    It was a good argument. At least that’s what she told herself as she considered it, her eyes settling on his lips. She did want to. He’s right. We could die anytime. She gave in to the impulse and, frowning at her weakness, she leaned in and kissed him softly on the mouth. His lips were soft, and warm, and she thought, this is kinda nice, before she sat back up. She licked her lips, tasting just a hint of his own. Really nice.
    “See?” he said quietly. “No earthquakes.”
    Just the one in my chest. She couldn’t take her eyes off his face. His voice changed when he spoke again, his tone lower. “Kiss me again.”
    She did, with less hesitation. With a sharp breath, he angled his head and covered her lips with his. The gentle touch of his mouth and the warm heat of his lips woke something in her - something hot that blossomed and pooled at her center. She trembled and moved to sit back, but he followed. The kiss went from warm to scorching as his lips slid against hers, as his tongue darted out for a taste. She whined and he finally pulled back.
    “Sorry,” he said with a lopsided grin. She scrambled away, putting the campfire between them again. “Really, Lia. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
    “It’s okay,” she whispered. I’m the one that’s all wrong. She tried to slow her breathing, waiting for the blush that had turned her face red to fade.
    “Lia-”
    “It’s okay,” she repeated, “I’m fine.” But she wasn’t. She shook all over, and it wasn’t only with fear. She wanted to kiss him again. But I shouldn’t.
    He sighed. “We can stay here for an hour if you want to close your eyes for a bit. I’ll keep watch. We need to reach a proper