“There needs to be air between us.”
“Why?”
“Because this would be considered scandalous, my elven prince.”
The press of his body to hers draws out her heat, but she adjusts to put space between them again.
“This is a very awkward position. And we never move closer?”
“Not in public. Stars above.”
“We’re not in public.” A teasing note coats his words, and she struggles not to smile.
“Learn it the right way first. Then perhaps we can try it a little closer.”
“I will hold you to that,” he whispers in her ear, and a shiver races to her toes.
Breathing out slowly, she rests her left arm on his right one.
This truly is an odd position, now that she thinks about it.
“Now what?” he asks.
“Oh. I should have shown you the steps first. Here.” She drops her arms and pivots to his side. “This will be backward for me. Well, we’ll do our best.”
She lifts her skirt a little to demonstrate the simple pattern, and he frowns.
“I can’t see your feet at all.”
With a sigh, she lifts her skirt higher. “Better?”
“I think a little higher.”
She lifts her skirt even higher, and his lips twitch.
“Perhaps a little high—”
She smacks his arm, and he steals an impromptu kiss.
“I like your legs,” he whispers when he pulls away. “When I first saw you in that dress in the heartlanding, I struggled not to stare.”
“The day we got married? I thought you hated me.”
“I never hated you. I was terrified of you. I always loved your legs.”
A blush creeps up her cheeks, and she clears her throat and lifts her skirt again, a little higher this time. “How’s that?”
“Perfect. I’ll try to pay attention.”
She just smiles and demonstrates the steps again. He keeps looking expectantly at her feet before his eyebrows wrinkle.
“What?” she asks.
“Is that it?”
“It’s harder than it—”
But before she can finish, he copies her steps perfectly.
