“I like it,” she says with a grin. “You’ve greatly improved the decor.”
“Hush, you.”
“Seriously. It feels like home now.” She lifts her brows in his direction, and once the meaning of her words occurs to him, he wraps his hands around her waist again.
“Home?”
“I’m Arisanna Montarac Westaria now, my elven prince. I hail from Windhaven House in Darlei. Don’t look so surprised.”
A joy too forceful to contain fills him, and he can’t stop the smile that sweeps over his face. “You are amazing.”
“You know what else is amazing, my elven prince? Caramel apples. And you. I’m fond of both.”
“Caramel apples.” He looks away and sighs. “You’re as persistent as any Westarian woman. Elf or otherwise.”
“I shall take that as a compliment. Now come on. I think you’ll like caramel apples.”
He has his doubts, but he doesn’t argue as she tugs him along.
Oh Mighty Arisanna
Episode 99
Arisannastabstheapplesthrough the cores with the sticks Cerian grew, and he lifts his brows. “I’m slightly disturbed by the gusto with which you impaled that fruit.”
“All hail Arisanna, Impaler of Fruit. I hear the Westarian women are a force to be reckoned with.” She grins up at him, and a burst of laughter fills his chest. It feels good to be silly with him in the midst of everything happening with Elowyn. He needs to laugh more. They both do.
“Now what, oh mighty Arisanna?”
“Hmm. I like that. Would you think me bold to beg a kiss?”
It certainly feels bold when she says it. Stars above.
“You need only ask.” He smiles as he sits back against the table and draws her close between his knees. He clearly doesn’t mind. The freedom and the smiles and laughter that flow so easily from him when they’re alone together in this room warm her heart. There are so many facets to this elf of hers. So many layers. But here, he’s just himself. And it’s perfect.
When their lips part, he rests his forehead against hers. “My Arisanna.”
“You forgot the ‘mighty.’”
He pokes her, and she laughs.
“We’re supposed to be making caramel apples,” she says. “You keep distracting me.”
“I believe it was the mighty Arisanna who begged for a kiss.”
“As if you minded.”
His lips twitch into a smile. “No. I didn’t mind. At all.”
“Shall we continue?”
“The kiss or the apples?”
“The apples,” she says with a laugh.
“If we must.” He steals another kiss before letting her go.
They already sorted enough caramels from the candy stash to fill the bowl.
