‘I’ve never danced before,’ Ezer said, her voice a bit breathless as he guided her through the sea of dancers. ‘Certainly not in gown like this.’
His gaze lowered, sweeping down her body before they shot back upwards to her face. And then stayedonlyon her face.
Like he was trying very hard not to drink in the details of her.
The way the fabric clung to her body like a second skin. He’d done the same in the bathing chambers, and suddenly she was thinking abouthimin such a state, and …
Gods, she suddenly felt like she needed air.
‘Well,’ Arawn chuckled. ‘Lucky for you, Minder, I am a prince. And a very unfortunate side effect of that is an extensive knowledge of dancing.’
He took charge of their bodies together, spinning her round like she was made of air.
They spun past a couple in Dhysis’ gold and then Aristra’s green. The colors seemed to muddle together, the motions so fast that she suddenly found herself tripping over her own feet.
Damn the heels Izill had forced her into.
Damn how good it felt when Arawn caught her.
And lowered her, slowly, into a dip, his hand dangerously close to the small of her back.
‘Careful,’ he said, as he held her there, his face so close to hers she need only lift her head … just in the slightest … to press her lips to his.
If she dared.
She could discover all the things she had in her dreams.
She could taste him …havehim the way she never had before … if only he felt the same.
Warmth shot all the way to her toes.
He lifted her slowly, his hand sliding across her back.
‘Winterwine is potent,’ Arawn whispered as he righted her. ‘It is why we are only allotted one glass. The ones who fight tonightwon’t drink at all. Though some...find their ways around the system.’
‘And you?’ Ezer asked, breathless in his gaze. ‘What willyoudo tonight, Firemage?’
His eyes slipped to her dress again.
‘I … will stay up later than I should,’ he said. The music changed around them, and he lifted her, spinning them again. ‘Most likely, I’ll send every lackluster thought I have towards you until I bore you to sleep, and the speaking stone goes cold.’
Behind his mask, his eyes were like twin crystals, so blue she could have drowned in them, could have?—
‘Ezer.’ The wind sighed her name, as if in warning.
Like it was calling to her through the warm fuzziness of the winterwine, reminding her not to fall.
Not to sink into something she would not be able to climb out of, when morning came. When he would be untouchable,forbidden,yet again.
But she dared place her hand upon his chest, as they turned.
She dared feel the way his heart slammed against her palm, dared relish how the heat of him licked her skin like a promise.
He cleared his throat.
‘How is Six treating you?’ Arawn asked.
So painfully, he’d changed the subject.
