He makes a disgusted sound, but it’s not aimed toward me. I don’t think.
We are both quiet and still, mere inches away from each other. I’ve kissed many boys, but looking at him now, at his proud chin and strong shoulders, at the scruff on his face and thunderous brow, butterflies dance deep in my belly. My body doesn’t want to move.
He raises a dark brow. “Have it your way, then. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I smile, oddly comforted by his grumpiness. His scowl falters as I lean forward and brush my lips to his cheekbone. His warm scent envelops me. Sunshine. Palm leaves. My mouth slides across his broken nose, a soft feathery touch until I reach his other cheek and press another soft kiss.
He inhales sharply. “For the record, I think this is a bad idea.”
“The record understands your hesitations. And thinks they’re dumb.”
He snorts. I smile against his skin, my mouth gliding against his cheek, and he groans. I travel up to both eyelids. More soft kisses there. He grips my upper arms and positions us so our lips meet. The kiss isn’t gentle. It’s a war between two stubborn souls. I get lost in the fight, thread my fingers in his hair, taste his frustration. He nips my mouth, pulls me closer, until I’m sitting in his lap. I’m winning the battle. His hands slide up to the back of my neck and he ends the kiss. Calls a truce. His eyes are open, and instead of anger, he regards me ruefully. “I surrender, Catalina.”
“Does that mean you’ll kiss me again?” I tease.
“Before this night is over, I will. I’m not quite ready to say goodbye.” Manuel gently lifts me off his lap, sets me close to his side. We tilt our heads back, stare up at Luna, and her moonlight dances around us.
We sit, shoulder to shoulder for a long moment. There are only the soft croaks from the jungle frogs and the buzzing of mosquitos, the snap of a hot breeze that teases my unruly hair.
“I’m leaving for a short while,” he says. “Perhaps a day or two.”
I look at him sharply. “¿Cuándo?”
“In the morning with the dawn. I didn’t want to leave without telling you.” He pushes his hair off his face. “I’m going with Kusi to investigate the part of the jungle that has become affected.”
“No.”
“You’ll be safe here. In fact, this is the safest place you can be, Catalina.”
“But what about you? This mission is dangerous.”
He shrugs. “Perhaps it is. Sonco doesn’t like the idea of waging war because he doesn’t know who the enemy is.”
“You will come back, won’t you?”
“I swear it.”
“In time for the festival in two days? I’ve never seen you dance.”
“Because I can’t.”
We spent very few days dancing in the Illustrian keep. Sometimes we danced on Ana’s birthday because we pestered her to celebrate. “I’m sure I’m not a good dancer either.”
“We’ll return when we’re done with the mission.”
A terrible sense of foreboding washes over me, dampening the stars’ brightness, dulling the scent of the flowers surrounding us. My eyes grow weary, and I yawn. Exhaustion sets in. And if I’m tired, Manuel must be doubly so. He hasn’t stopped moving since the day he rescued me from that jaguar. “It’s not your job to find answers.”
“I have my reasons. Besides, it’s the least I can do.”
I poke his arm. “Why do I get the feeling you’re not telling me something?”
“Oh, I have to share all of my secrets with you?”
“It’d be nice.”
“That’s not how this works.”
“The old way isn’t working for me.”
