“It’s working, it’s working!” Hero cries as a rumble of thunder groans and the air around us trembles. I pull away from Ben as the first drops of rain start to fall. With a crack of lightning scissoring through the sky in the distance, the heavens finally open.

“Yarooooo!” the cry goes up and the others dance, laughing, half-running back towards the house, their arms in the air and their delighted screams echoing around us.

I go to follow them, but Ben stops me, putting a hand on my arm.

“What is it?” I ask, looking up at him. A nervous feeling shivers through me.

“It’s about the experiment,” he says, drawing me closer. “I think there’s something that Ursula mentioned that we haven’t tried yet.” The briefest glimpse of uncertainty flashes in his eyes. “If you’re interested, I mean.”

Suddenly I’m not afraid at all. I feel utterly, uncontrollably alive. Rain drips from his curling gold hair, and an unstoppable grin spreads over my face.

“You look pleased with yourself,” he murmurs.

I lean towards him, my hand going to his cheek to pull him towards me, my lips against his ear. “Do you want me to kiss you, Ben?” I whisper softly, and I feel him freeze. “You only need to ask.” I fight the laughter rising inside me; the joy of turning the tables is so complete. “Nicely.”

There is a pause, half a second that feels like for ever.

“Yes,” he replies. “Please.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

There’s a split second where I can’t believe it’s really going to happen and then, just like that, it is. I am kissing Ben, and it turns out that kissing Ben is magic.

His mouth brushes against mine, soft at first, and my arms twine around his neck seemingly of their own accord. I lean towards him with a little sigh and feel his smile against my lips. I pull him closer to me, my eyes fluttering closed as I enjoy the sensation of being so near. He tastes of wine and something sweet and spicy, like cinnamon.

The rain hammers around us, as the kiss deepens into something hungry, as if my body is starving for something that I don’t even understand, need pooling in my belly. His hand tangles in my hair, all of Hero’s carefully placed pins tumbling to the ground, and it feels as though electric currents pass between us, as though everywhere he touches me sparks and shivers. It’s greedy and urgent and it leaves me trembling.

After a moment that feels both fleeting and endless, I seem to come to myself again. I pull away and blink, the world coming slowly back into focus. The others have completely disappeared. Ben and I stand in the rain staring at each other. His pupils are wildly dilated, and we are both breathing heavily.