“That doesn’t-? What?Why?I’m giving you an out, take it, you fool!”
“Now I’m a fool. That’s lovely.”
“Cyrus!”
“Swan!”
“Stop calling me that!” I begged. “Ugh! You are soinfuriating!Just agree to my terms!”
“No,” he said. He scowled. “I’m not even sure what your terms are, but I am sure you’re upset I only kissed youonce.Is thatright?Is that what I’m hearing?” He took an absolute steptoward me. “Is that why your Blade told me to come find themwhen we were ready?”
“He told you that?”
“He sure did. You wanted extra time alone with me, didn’t you?” he asked. “Is that your problem today? Is that why you’re so tense? Do you want me to kiss you again, Swan? Would that make you happy?”
I looked up at him as he crowded me, his hand rising to brush the highest exposed part of my arm. I shamelessly melded to the contact.
“If youwantme to be forward with you, I will be forward,” he said. “I don’t have to be polite.”
I felt unable to reply. “...I want to know whatyouwant from me. We never determined that.”
“You want to know what I want? Are you sure?” he asked. His hand played with my shoulder, then went around my back to bring me closer, until he could lean down to my ear too easily. “I’m a man, Princess. I’m not a prince; I’m not a lord. What do you think I want from you?”
Within my chest, mytraitorheart fluttered, and I reared at the sensation of his breath hot against my neck. Evergreen remained relaxed, perhapseagerfor my response, but quiet. Very quiet.
“…Please,” I whispered. “Please tell me. What do you want?”
“I want you to tell me to kiss you, Swan,”he said.
“I… I want you to kiss me,” I said. He waited. “I… Kiss me, Mr. Evergreen. Please.”
With my confession, I had expected him to erupt into a fit of passion, to take me into his arms, and pin me to the blanket, or carry me into the house, but he didn’t. He took a step backward and sat coolly upon the sheet to take a sandwich.
“W-Was that not what you wanted?” I asked.
“On the contrary, it was everything I wanted,” he said. “Come sit down. Eat.”
“Are we not going to…” I cleared my throat. “Are we not waiting for the others to indulge?”
He gestured to the picnic. “As much fun as it is to be the ever social Mr. Evergreen, I prefer to take advantage of these moments alone with you and be who I really am.”
“Thisis taking advantage?” I asked.
“Aye. Ser Willoughby said to find them, didn’t he? The day is young; we have plenty of time to be indulgent.”
Evergreen caught sight of something behind me. He climbed to his feet, finished the bite he held, then stole something from the greenery and brought it over.
“What is it?” I asked.
He hid it behind his back. “It’s not a feather,” he explained. “But itiswhite and pretty.”
“Is it a flower?”I asked. “I’m not much for flowers. Sameer—” I paused as he revealed a rose.
The petals were smooth and perfectly unbruised, and somehow it was brighter and livelier than the whole bushel of daisies the Prince had given me.
“A rose?” I asked.
“A rose,” he confirmed. He presented it again, this time with a flourish, and when I took it, he was happy.
