Chapter 227

Cassian looked at Anastasia and reached out to take her hand. She pulled him up while he used the momentum to climb in, but he came in a little too hard, sending Anastasia stumbling backward.

Luckily, Cassian caught her before she could fall. Anastasia ended up pressed against his chest, heart still racing from the near-tumble.

“You okay?” Cassian’s voice was soft and warm against her ear.

Anastasia shook her head quickly. “Yeah, I’m good.”

“Scared?” she asked, studying his face.

“Not even a little,” Cassian said, though his grip on her seemed to suggest otherwise.

The hot air balloon started its slow ascent. They watched the world shrink below them—people becoming dots, buildings turning into toys—until they reached the peak and hovered there.

The wind was pretty intense up there, whipping Anastasia’s hair all over the place. She was about to grab her hair tie when Cassian gently intercepted it, carefully gathering her hair at the nape of her neck. He was being so gentle, like he was afraid of hurting her, that the ponytail ended up pretty loose.

“Thanks,” Anastasia smiled, turning to face him. “You could’ve made it tighter though…”

The words died on her lips when she saw the way he was looking at her—like she was the only thing in the world that mattered. Anastasia’s throat went dry. “We should… check out the view,” she managed.

“I am,” Cassian said, his eyes never leaving her face.

Anastasia felt her breath catch, her heart doing this crazy flutter thing. Cassian gently tugged her closer until she was fully in his arms. The movement made the whole basket sway.

Anastasia instinctively grabbed onto his waist, suddenly very aware of how high up they were.

“Hey, I’ve got you,” Cassian murmured, one hand cradling the back of her head. “You’re safe.”

“I know,” she whispered.

“Close your eyes for me,” he said softly.

Anastasia did as he asked, then felt his lips brush against hers—tentative at first, then with growing confidence…