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little sunshine had been warming my head and shoulders. He grabbed my arm, fingers brushing soft skin beneath my woolen jumper. I shivered. The cool shade or the heat where his fingers held on to my arm?
    "What is your problem?" The question whispered on my cheek as he pushed me against the trunk. The branches hung low, providing a brief curtain of privacy.
    "I don't like you," I stuttered. "That's my problem. So maybe . . . stay away from me."
    "Fine." He growled the word.
    We were close enough that a breath would bring our lips together. My heart thudded and tumbled within my chest so violently, I was terrified he could hear it. What were we arguing about again? I couldn't recall. I just savored the drug-like heat.
    His own heart thudded where his chest lay against my arm. Our breath mingled.
    Warm. Enticing.
    Rapid.
    Neither one of us moved and yet the distance disappeared and Aidan's lips grazed mine. As light as air, a whisper, sending me into a whirlpool of heated emotions. My breath vanished from my lungs, head hot and skin fiery. All this heat was undoubtedly dangerous.
    His body pressed close against mine as he deepened the kiss. My traitorous knees were hot jelly and my head molten.
    Skin sizzled.
    More.
    And then a girl's shrill laugh filtered through the low canopy from up the street. The noise, and the reminder that we were in a public place, jolted us out of our interlude. Heat dissipated as we drew apart, dazed and intoxicated with the heat and so many other things I didn't dare admit. Back on earth, I breathed again. What the hell was going on? My hands quivered and I tightened them around the canvas of my bag strap.
    Aidan stared at my face.
    Dazed. Confused.
    Slightly angry.
    Angry? Was he angry with me? Well then, why not? I wasn't the most desirable company. It didn't take a genius to figure out if we'd been caught, it would have ruined his little date on Saturday night.
    I bit back the tears and turned, striding away fast. To get away. But I slowed my pace so no one watching would get curious. Too many rumors followed me around already.
    I left him standing half-hidden beneath the tree and walked off without a backward glance.
    ***
    I slammed the door to my room, dropping my bag on the floor. Faint wisps of the heat and the tingling in my body remained. But my anger hadn't dissipated. No surprise. Aidan was just another social-climbing kid. Too bad he'd lost control and made out with the school leper. I vowed never to entertain a repeat performance. But my traitorous body relived the encounter and a wave of bristling heat swam through me, mind and body.
    A knock sounded against the wood panel of my door.
    I froze.
    I ached to rush to the door and flick the lock. Longed to dive out the window. Anything to avoid looking into Aidan's angry, embarrassed eyes.
    Shadows moved at the base of the door. I remained still.
    Another soft rap. "Bryn?" he whispered.
    A minute went by and the shadows beneath the door hesitated, then disappeared, footsteps retreating down the hall.
    I sighed, relieved.
    And angry.
    Angry he hadn't made more of an effort. How ridiculous. His interests lay elsewhere. Why would he waste any effort on me? Even if we were fostered in the same home, it meant nothing. No obligation, no loyalty.
    I shuddered and sank onto the bed, squashing its precisely folded corners. The exhausted muscles in my legs alternated between solid and jelly. My heart hurt from the pounding and my head ached from the constant battle within the confines of my skull.
    I hid in my room through dinner. Thankfully, my lack of appetite meant missing dinner was no issue. Anyone else and Ms. Custer would have screamed blue murder until they got their butts to the dinner table. But she already knew my eating patterns were off. I lay on my bed watching the sky go from pale blue, tinged with orange and reds, to inky midnight blue. At last, when it turned black as pitch, I closed my eyes.
    And dreamed of fire and