Ethan's lips felt stiff and dry on Mandy's.
This wasn't the first kiss Mandy had hoped for. With people, she barely knows, in a dangerous place where their lives are at stake. But Mandy couldn't think of any other way than this.
She couldn't slap or hurt Ethan because that wasn't allowed. This is the only way to bring him back to his senses. By disturbing his senses, and attracting his attention.
Mandy pressed her lips tightly together, and it felt like she was kissing a wall. She closed her eyes and cupped Ethan's face, preventing him from turning away.
When Mandy finally broke free to breathe, her eyes met Ethan's. The gaze was no longer empty, except that Ethan looked confused for a moment before focusing his eyes on Mandy and blinking.
"Mandy?" Ethan's tone was a little high and his voice hoarse. His irises trembled, and his lips parted slightly. His breath hitched as if he had just run tens of kilometers away.
