Rinna looked up into his handsome face. Those eyes were the focal point, but there was so much more to look at. His strong nose, leading down to those soft lips. The angle of hisjaw. His square chin. Even the thick slashes of his eyebrows were fascinating. But Rinna had been with handsome men before. Why was she so enthralled by this one?
It was all of Laroc. Not just his pretty face or glorious body. Not his wingspan or his smile. It washowhe smiled and when. His humor. His bravery. His absolute disregard for anything he didn't love. And he loved her. That's what he wanted to say. Rinna could see it in his eyes. But her big, bad warrior was scared. It was probably her fault. She had pushed him away from the start, even as she physically pulled him closer. Rinna had expected Laroc to be like all the other Aethari, interested in a Medean for sex alone. So, she had pretended that sex was all she was after as well.
Despite that, they'd grown closer. They had spent most nights together, slowly becoming a couple. Still, she had denied any emotional ties to him. She'd been so certain that Laroc would do his required service and then return to one of the Aethari sky cities without a backward glance. Now, she was certain of the opposite. And didn't that change everything?
Rinna had never been shy. Even as a child, she had boldly wandered her world, demanding what she wanted and then, when she was big enough, getting it herself. Now, she wanted Larocran Ader. So, as he stared at her, the words lodged in his throat, she said, “I love you, Laroc.”
With a broken exhale, Laroc fell to his knees and buried his face in her belly.
Rinna stared down at him in shock as his shoulders began to shake.Is he crying? Holy fuck!Her hands went hesitantly to his shoulders. “Ah, there, there.” She patted him.
With a burst of laughter, Laroc looked up at her. “There, there? Do you think I've fallen at your feet to weep?” He laughed harder at her grimace. “Woman, you have led me on a wild chase. Frankly, you act like a man. You've driven me mad with all your nonsense about keeping things casual. Casual!” He burst to his feet. “We have never been casual! But I've gone along with it because I knew we'd be incredible together. I knew you were special.”
“Then why are you laughing?” She crossed her arms.
“Because I'm fucking exhausted!” Laroc chuckled as he sat on the cots. “I had to save you from a Nethren invasion, fly to the coast with you, and then come back here to lay siege to our fortress, all to get you to admit that you love me. I fell to my knees to thank Source you had finally gotten over your issues.”
“My issues?” Rinna put her fists on her hips. “You're an Aethari. I'm a Medean. Your people fuck mine and leave them. That's what you guys do. I don't have an issue with it. It's simply a fact.”
“What other Aethari do has nothing to do with me. You should have known that early on. I'm friends with Thaxvarien, for fuck's sake. I stood beside him even after he and Liria declared themselves. I would have done the same with you if you hadn't assumed I was a dick.”
“Oh, I don't think so, buddy.” Rinna narrowed her eyes. “Don't act as if you're some honorable man whom I should have trusted from the beginning. You have a horrible reputation. You're a slut. The whole fortress knows it.”
“I am not a slut!” He surged to his feet. Then he grimaced. “Iwasa slut. Until I met you.”
Rinna snorted. “We've both had affairs. Many, many affairs.”
Laroc glared at her. “All right now, I don't need to hear about your conquests.”
She snorted again. “As if yours don't outnumber mine.”
“I don't know, and I don't want to know.” Laroc sighed. “Let's leave that in the past.” He cupped her cheek. “I love you, Rinna. I don't know when it happened, but it's done. Final. No going back. You're it for me.”
“What about your home? I can't go with you.”
“Fuck the sky.” He shrugged. “If you'll have me, I'll stay grounded forever.”
For an Aethari to say such a thing was akin to blasphemy. To do so with such nonchalance was shocking. But that was Laroc. He did what he wanted and didn't care about the consequences. Which kind of made them perfect for each other.
“You'd give up the sky for me?” Rinna whispered.
“I'd give up my left nut for you, babe.”
“Just the left?”
“I need at least one to make my love juice. How would I keep you happy without that?”
Rinna grimaced, but it turned into laughter. “You're an asshole.”
“But you love me anyway.” Laroc grinned.
“I do. I guess we're both fucked now.”
“Only if you let me keep one nut.”
“You can keep them both,” she said magnanimously.
“My lady is so generous!” He fell to his knees again and unbuckled her belt. “How tired are you?”
