Pellie’s hand dragged down his stomach until it clenched, and he didn’t ask again as he leaned down and captured her lips with his.
He didn’t care that the others must hear the low moan escaping him, because damn, this little witch was skilled with her mouth. Pellie opened for him immediately, and her tongue played with his before she nipped at his lip, making him spin them both around so she was pressed against the railing while he angled her head to kiss her deeper, moving her body so he could feel every inch lining up with his own.
She was so fucking soft, and she tasted… he couldn’t even explain it as he devoured her lips, groaning when she perfectly matched his movements.
Her arms came around him, and while there wasn’t a lick of shyness within him, when one of her hands slipped beneath his tunic and she scraped her nails over his skin, he pulled back.
A laugh fell from his lips when she actually pouted.
Pressing another kiss to her red mouth, he mumbled, “I’d fuck you right here if that’s what you want, but somehow I don’t think you’d want your sister or any of the others as witnesses.”
Her scent—that sweet, fucking intoxicating arousal—built around them, and Kerym’s eyes widened. “Is… that what you want?”
Fuck, he was down. It would be nice to show Merrick what it was like watching him drool all over Lessia all day, every day.
But as he bent down to kiss her again, she laughed. “No, you’re right. I… I just have always wanted to do it outside…”
Kerym couldn’t stop himself from pressing his lips to her neck. “We’ll make that happen. Vastala is beautiful this time of year. It’s not too warm, and if we can sneak away from the capital, I can show you some of my favorite places.”
“Are you done? We’re soon there, and we should be ready,” Merrick grumbled.
Kerym took his time looking up from all of Pellie’s soft skin, but when Merrick muttered again, he finally gave her a peck and straightened, although he didn’t bother too much adjusting his trousers, especially as she continued to press herself against his side when he slung an arm over her shoulder.
Kerym prepared to throw Merrick a comment as they reached the group at the same time Soria joined them, but to his surprise, Merrick actually grinned at him, slapping him on the back, before he turned to the water wielder. “How long?”
As the male responded “a few minutes,” Kerym’s frown deepened.
Merrick hadn’t just smiled… his question, albeit short, had been filled with happiness.
“He’s happy for you,” Pellie breathed into his ear. “After feeling what he feels for Lessia… he wants everyone to experience it.”
It became difficult to swallow, especially as Merrick looked up, clearly having heard the question, and nodded as he pulled Lessia to his own side from where she’d leaned over the railing to wave to Ydren.
“I’m glad you’re not wasting any time,” he mumbled when Lessia smiled up at him. “I wish I hadn’t.”
Kerym wanted to say that Merrick hadn’t either. He’d just waited until she was ready. Until he was free to love her like Lessia deserved.
But the half-witch half-Fae spoke before he could. “He’s right, you know. My people are strong, and from what I saw back there… we’ll have Havlands significantly outnumbered. Better declare your love now.”
The growl in Kerym’s chest was accompanied by the one in Merrick’s, and his silver-haired friend nearly lunged for the man before Lessia placed a hand on his arm.
If Kerym wasn’t so used to it by now, he would have been fascinated by how quickly Merrick settled down.
If this had happened when they were growing up…
“You better watch yourself,” Kerym warned as the male continued to stare at the two of them, holding some type of silent battle of the eyes. “Merrick likes to rip people’s hearts out. Literally.”
The man’s eyes moved to Kerym’s, and for a second he seemed as bored as he had been the entire trip, but then his brown eyes narrowed and he used a hand to sweep some of his white-peppered hair out of his face as he leaned forward.
“Do I know you?” he asked.
“No,” Kerym spat. “I’ve never seen you in my centuries alive.”
But the man only leaned in farther, surveying everyinch of his face until Kerym nearly asked Merrick to go right ahead. The Fae warrior threw a look at Pellie, who was observing the man, then to her sister, who watched him equally intently, his unease mounting.
“You think you know him?” Pellie asked, making the man’s gaze fly to hers.
“Yes, guardian.” His voice took a more awe-filled tone. “He looks very much like someone I heard of once…”
