Page 17 of Tasting Innocence

I can’t see him but I feel his hand as he searches for me, and it lands on my lower stomach first before finding my wrist.

“I’m going to go extremely slow. I don’t know how far down we’d fall if I miss a step,” I tell him.

“That’s fine.”

My small hand is swallowed by his, and I hope I don’t start nervously sweating. Our fingers entwine and it makes my stomach do a flip. This feels good. I’m glad he can’t see me smiling like an idiot.

“Vi?” he says softly.

“Yeah?”

“Besides the dark enclosed space and potential imminent death, this feels nice.” He squeezes my hand and my smile grows, warmth spreading through my limbs.