"I can't. I'm not fully recovered yet, so I can't be complacent. It's best if we avoid contact as much as possible."
Shane Sterling was not happy. "It's bad enough work gets in the way of us meeting, but now a virus has to join in on the fun? We're practically becoming star-crossed lovers."
"It doesn't matter what you say. The answer is no," she said, rational and calm.
Shane Sterling wanted to wear her down a little longer, but he hadn't slept for a full day and night and had just endured a high-intensity meeting. His consciousness was like ink bleeding on wet rice paper, the line between clarity and chaos slowly blurring.
He could barely keep his eyes open.
"Then kiss me, and I'll leave." He leaned over, bringing his face close to Isla Prescott's.
They were both wearing masks, but a mask couldn't completely eliminate the risk.
Just as Isla Prescott was hesitating, Shane Sterling lost his patience and leaned in to kiss her.
