Hannah bowed her head and could see Arnold Simmons's shadow.
She followed behind him, her hand still in his grasp.
"Where are we going?"
She couldn't help but ask.
Arnold didn't answer, but just gripped her hand a bit tighter.
Finally, when they reached the deepest part of the dense forest, he stopped.
Without a word, he cradled the back of Hannah's head and pressed her against the tree trunk, bowing his head to kiss her lips.
The kiss was far from gentle.
It could even be described as somewhat fierce.
Possessive and assertive, yet inexplicably careful.
She clutched his sleeve tightly.
Because of their height difference, Hannah had to tilt her head back.
It seemed he noticed this, and for the first time, his hand around her waist behaved improperly.
He was undoing her clothes.
The outer ones, then the inner ones.
There were gaps between the leaves, layered one upon another, right where starlight filtered through.
Starlight sparkled in her eyes.
