"Do you like me?" I asked. "Do you really like me?"
Imogen nodded. Water gathered at the edges of her eyes. "Yeah," she whispered, in a voice pained enough to crack my heart.
"Then let's...go out, after this," I said. "We'll go on a date. We can figure this out together, and we can take one step at a time. Okay?"
Imogen nodded again. I took her hands in mine. 
Heartwood: Forbidden is the tale of the young, headstrong Ophelia stepping into a world of magic and witches. At first it seems like her greatest challenge will be finding her Familiar or drawing her Implement from a great tree, but then she runs into Imogen, daughter and heir to the Magnolia family, and learns very quickly that romance and magic probably shouldn't be allowed to mix. If Ophelia plays the game well, she might be able to get the girl and still end up on top. But Ophelia has never been good at following the rules... 
Heartwood: Forbidden is created by EOK Gifford-Smith, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

Heartwood: Forbidden

When I woke, I was in Imogen's arms. It was a slow realization; at first I simply thought I was more comfortable and safer than I'd ever felt before because Olezhka was in the room. Then I felt her arms, one wrapped around my waist the other cradling my head.


When my eyes fluttered open, I found out the pillows my face was nuzzled into were not, in fact, pillows, and I had to reconcile my sudden delight with my desire not to be creepy. Did I pull away? I didn't want to wake Imogen up. From our position, it was clear she had pulled me in sometime during the night. 


If Imogen woke up and I was still asleep, she could unwrap herself and suffer any embarrassment without my knowing. Assuming, that is, she had pulled me in unconsciously. If this was intentional... my heart skipped a beat and I tried not to hope for it. Imogen wasn't that forward.


Chapter 23: Waking Up