She’d rather dance in it.
His hand on her waist tightens into a fist around her satiny gown, and she gives him a moment to get his bearings.
“We’re still in the heartlanding,” he whispers.
“Yes, my love. Perhaps think about something else today. Something that induces happier thoughts in your mind.”
“In other words...no more moping?”
“Happy thoughts, my love.”
His sigh ruffles her hair. “Well, I quite like waking with you pressed against me like this.” He releases his clenched fist and, after the briefest hesitation, slides his hand along her hip and leg. “Yes. This makes me happy.”
Henuzzles her neck, and all the reasons they can’t do this flee to a recess of her mind as she rolls to her back and looks up at him.
“Even better.” His hand slides along her leg again, and he leans down to press his lips to hers in a kiss that quickly deepens as his hand wanders to other parts of her.
Whistling wind.
Abruptly, he pulls away. “You’re growing warm, and I am clearly the weakest of men.” He laughs a little hoarsely and flops to his back beside her while she resists the urge to groan.
He’s right to stop. Of course he’s right.
But she doesn’t have to like it.
“We should go on an adventure today,” he says. “Anything to distract me. I’m sure you’re full of ideas. Pick something with little risk of dying, though. Please.”
A smile slips onto her face. “I know the perfect thing.”
She Wants to Do What?
Episode 81
“Youknow,thelasttime we were here, we did all sorts of things Tharios wouldn’t approve of. I’m not sure you quite understood what I meant when I asked for a distraction, love.” Rominy crosses his arms over his chest as he tries to hold back his smile on their little tropical island. The surf laps at their toes, and Elowyn grins over her shoulder at him as she tucks a wisp of silver hair behind her ear.
He’d like to play with her ears himself. And her hair.
All of her, really.
She lifts her arms and spins as she tilts her head back, the hem of her gown catching the breeze and giving him a view of far more of her legs than she probably realizes.
Unless she’s doing that on purpose.
At least no one cares if he catches fire.
“I wish to build a treehouse,” she says. “Like the ones in the books Tharios read to me about people stranded on deserted islands after their ships wreck.”
He stares at her without responding.
She wants to do what?
When he doesn’t say anything, she stops spinning and turns toward him with her hands on her hips. “You wanted an adventure.”
“Did I say that?”
“You did, Your Highness.” She lifts her chin, and thoughts of their negotiations yesterday fill his head.
He’s going to lose. That much is obvious. But it might be fun to play along.
