The Kiss that Sparked it All (Ellinor and Theo) novel Chapter 2010

In the dim light of the movie theater, Balfour's eyes gleamed with an intensity that left Ivy tongue-tied, unable to muster the words of rejection.

If she did, she knew she'd feel as though she'd committed a grave error, shattering the hopeful anticipation in his heart.

"Look, how about this? I owe you one for today, and I'll make it up to you with a gift tomorrow, okay?" Ivy offered, her voice tinged with hope for a compromise.

Balfour's gaze dropped slightly, locking onto hers with a ripple of emotion, "No, after today it’s not my birthday anymore. Since you didn’t bring anything, why not improvise with what we have here?"

Ivy blinked, befuddled by his suggestion, "But we're in a cinema. There's nothing here."

Before she could finish her sentence, Balfour's hand reached out, cradling the back of her head, and he pressed a warm kiss against her lips.

The heat of the contact sent Ivy's eyes wide with shock, her whole body tensing.

She couldn't fathom why Balfour had suddenly kissed her, but even more startling was the fact that she didn't find herself repulsed by it.

Balfour didn't deepen the kiss, and he simply allowed their lips to touch lightly.

This fleeting contact sent Ivy's heart racing.

"Come on, and it's starting."

Latecomers rushed in, urging each other along, and Balfour quickly released Ivy. They both sat straight in their seats, pretending as if nothing had happened.

Throughout the movie, Ivy didn't catch a single scene. Her mind kept replaying the moment Balfour had kissed her, her body feeling inexplicably feverish.

Balfour, sitting beside her, was equally distracted, absentmindedly adjusting his tie as if he were too warm.