Chapter Two; Sneak Peek #8 (Patreon)

I've been trucking away on a long series of Obren romance variants, which has been interesting to say the least. I don't want major romantic developments (the literal ones, like kissing and the emotional ones, like major confessions) to happen "off-screen" despite a few months having passed. So, I've tried to strike a balance between allowing for the relationship to have continued in the intervening time, while also letting the really emotional stuff to happen right before the reader.

Predictably, the major romantic development for Obren in Chapter Two takes place in a cold military tent. I am nothing if not consistent.

You both start very tentatively at first. The uncertainty of uncharted ground demands caution and attention. You begin shoulder to shoulder, half-leaned against each other, but the warmth of his body draws you closer.

You quickly find that merely leaning on each other puts your back at an unfortunate angle. You shift, the both of you, and the awkward and fumbling moment makes you flush with embarrassment but the knight just laughs.

You find his amusement very annoying. You grip his hand tightly and he flinches from the chill, but you hold it tight and freeze his fingers off.

"What exactly are you laughing at?"

"Nothing in particular," he answers.

Finding his answer unsatisfying, you shift your grip from his hand to his wrist, freezing a new patch of his skin. He tries to worm his arm out of your grasp, but your grip is as tight as it is cold.

"Okay, okay," he yields at last. "I'll stop laughing."

"Fine." You release him.

But before you can even lower your arm back down to your side, he takes it in his and folds his fingers through your own.

"That doesn't mean I wanted you to let go."

This time, your flush is not from embarrassment.