Chapter 39 : KISSED

*Gwen’s POV*

Darick inhaled deeply. He took a moment to reply—and even though it was a fraction of a second, the hesitancy worried me.

"Are you sure?" he finally asked.

I interlocked my fingers with his, more for my own reassurance than his. "Yes, I'm not afraid. I want to, Darick. I'm ready to give myself to you. All of me."

"It may hurt. You may even pass out," he noted with a hint of seriousness in his eyes.

"I'm not afraid," I repeated.

Darick observed me for a little while longer before walking to his closet. I watched him as he shuffled through clothes and other items. He grabbed what looked like lingerie and then shut the closet door.

“Do you know what this fully means?” he asked me. It seemed like he was giving me another chance to back out, but I wasn’t going to. I was determined on my decision.

“Yes,” I replied. “Well, somewhat. Isabella briefly told me.”

Darick nodded. "The ‘kiss’ is a special ritual. It's an act of ecstatic an