“Dilys,” he corrected.
“Sealord Merimydion,” she reiterated, “there’s no need for you to apologize to me for anything. What happened yesterday was a mistake, but it’s over now. In the past. I’ve forgotten it, and so should you.”
His brows rose. “You have forgotten? This, I do not believe.” He stepped closer again. She retreated up another stair. “What passed between us was not forgettable.Iam not forgettable. Not to you.”
“You have a high opinion of yourself.”
“No higher than deserved. But I know when a woman looks at me and likes what she sees. And I know when she wants more.”
She did, gods help her. She was already melting, her hands itching to touch. She wanted to soothe his wounds, kiss them better. And then she wanted more of what he’d given her yesterday.
Summer retreated another step and, when he started to advance again, held up a hand as if to ward him off. “Is this your idea of not pushing?”
“I did not say I was not going to push. Only that I regretted pushing too much yesterday. Still, I know things between us happened faster than either of us anticipated. It has left you wary and me not as patient as I normally would be. So I retreat for the moment. You see?” He took two steps back and smiled disarmingly. “If you prefer, we can both pretend yesterday did not happen, and we will start anew, with today as the first day of our courtship.”
“There isn’t going to be any courtship.”
“Of course there will be. That’s why I came to Konumarr. So,moa halea,did you enjoy the flowers I left for you on your balcony this morning?”
“No,” she said shortly. “I didn’t. So don’t send me any more. And we arenotcourting.”
“Tey,we are.”
“No, we’re not.”
“Tey,we are. How can you doubt it after what we shared in the grotto? I thought I knew all the secrets ofililia nua,but I doubt the gods themselves have ever known such incredible pleasure.”
Her cheeks went beet red. “Would you stop!” she hissed.
He smiled tenderly. “There is no need for embarrassment. What happened between us is proof that our bond is strong. I should have led us there more slowly, but when I touched you and I kissed you, all I could think was...more.I think we both needed it,tey?”
“I certainly did not!” she exclaimed.
His brows arched. “An intimacy of my choosing is the price for each lie you tell me,” he reminded her. “Since you keep lying, I can only assume you are asking me to kiss you again.”
“You are impossible,” she huffed. “Out of my way. I’m late for breakfast.” She tried to skirt around him, but he caught her arm.
“Wait. Please.” The easy affable smile left his face. “There is an important matter we must discuss. I meant to talk to you about it yesterday, but you distracted me so deliciously.”
She arched her brows, trying to affect the same withering haughtiness Autumn had mastered. “I shall endeavor not to do so in future. Now, let me go this instant, or I will call the guards.”
“Give me two more minutes of your time.”
“This is not a negotiation.”
“Two minutes. It’s important. It’s about keeping you and your family safe.” When she sneered at him in disbelief, he said, “You’re the liar,moa kiri,not I. Apart from my comment about milked tea, I’ve spoken nothing but truth since the day I arrived.”
Well, that stung. “Oh, really? What about the lies you told Khamsin about killing Lily’s father?”
His smile was filled with smug satisfaction. “So you do remember that it was you.”
“Oh!” She couldn’t believe she’d walked straight into that one. She glared at him. He was even sneakier than she’d thought. And if he wasn’t using that sneakiness against her, she might even have felt a grudging admiration for it. “Fine. Let go of me, and you’ll have your two minutes.” She stared pointedly at the hand on her arm until he removed it. She folded her arms across her chest. “So talk,” she commanded.
He moved a little closer and dropped his voice so low that no one within two feet of them could have heard it. “The power you wield—your Siren’s gift—have you spoken to anyone about it since I told you what it was?” Gone was the charming, seductive suitor. This Dilys was all business, his expression grim, his tone brusque and no-nonsense.
“No,” she admitted.
“Good. Don’t. Don’t tell anyone. Not even your sisters.”
