Whistling wind.
No wonder he wished to study music. The way his hands fly over the keys, coaxing the most beautiful melody and harmony from them, makes something inside her ache, not only for the haunting beauty of the music but for the dreams this prince of hers set aside because his future was written for him from the day he was born.
“Rominy,” she breathes when the last note ends, and he turns to look at her.
His eyes are full of so many emotions. Happiness and yearning and hints of vulnerability.
“That was beautiful, my love,” she whispers.
“I didn’t realize how much I miss playing.” He sighs and runs his hand over the glossy wood. “It’s been a while since I touched a piano. Always too many other things demanding my attention.”
“We will make time. I promised to help you find your music.”
“You already have, El.” The warmth in his eyes prods her control as longing fills his expression.
“Rominy.”
“I’m going to play more. I need to give my hands something to do that doesn’t involve running them all over you.”
Her heart speeds up at his words as memories from their twilight swim fill her thoughts. The way it felt when he touched her. The heat in his gaze when he looked at her.
“Lie under the stars, love,” he says. “I’ll play for you until you fall asleep, and I’ll be with you when you wake.”
“I’m definitely swooning.”
His lips tilt into a crooked smile that steals her breath away, but rather than cross the distance between them, she lowers herself to the bed and watches him draw anotherbeautiful song from the gorgeous instrument he plays as if it’s part of him. Soon, her eyelids grow heavy, and she doesn’t fight her exhaustion as the waves and music carry her off to sleep.
WhenCerianopenshiseyes on their railcar, a warmth fills him. Not that he’s any fonder of the train than he was before, but the train means having Arisanna all to himself, with no one else to encounter.
He’ll put up with the clacking and the smell for that.
Her head lies in his lap again, the way it usually does when they wake in the heartlanding lately. Her bow and quiver lie on the opposite bench. Perhaps he’ll teach her how to use them someday.
Her eyes are still closed, and for a few moments, he studies her. She looks so content, sleeping against him. Gently, he brushes a wisp of hair back from her face.
“Mmm. Cerian?”
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers after only the briefest hesitation.
It really is becoming easier to speak to her.
The smile she sends him when she blinks her eyes open fills his heart so full he almost crushes her to his chest. But he doesn’t. He just looks down into her eyes and plays with her hair some more.
“Where do you think our train will stop tonight?” she asks.
“Where do you want it to stop?”
It seems like a safe response. The last thing he desires is for her to feel pressured to do anything.
As she gazes up at him, a seriousness replaces her smile. “I want to stop somewhere with water,” she whispers.
“Sounds perfect.”
His magic comes to life thinking about it. About her.
“Have you ever seen the ocean?” she asks as she rolls to her back. She seems happy to lie across his lap.
And he doesn’t want her to move.
