The jade disc sits in the dip of my collarbone and has a pleasant coolness against my skin. I love it even more knowing he chose a length that wouldn’t tangle with my mom’s canary yellow diamond pendant that hangs next to my heart. ‘Thank you,’ I say. ‘It’s so pretty.’
‘So pretty,’ he agrees.
‘Did you know I was mad at you?’ I say.
‘Because I am staying with Lord Aengus?’
‘Yes,’ I say, not caring that I’m whining. ‘Why wouldn’t you choose me over the envoy?’
He sits next to me on the bed. ‘Because it is unseemly. We are not married, we should not share a room.’
‘But Gigi and Ah Lang—’
‘Have been dating for over a millennia,’ he says, tone gentle. ‘There is no rush, Jing.’
He cups my face and presses his lips against mine. I fall into his kiss, breathing him in, but almost immediately, he pulls away.
‘More kissing,’ I demand.
He makes a show of checking his watch. ‘We should join the others,’ he says, tone solemn. ‘They’ll be waiting.’
I cross my arms in a snit.
The corners of his lips twitch until he can’t hold his mahjong face any longer and he breaks into a cheeky grin. ‘How can I resist when you pout like that?’
He playfully pulls at my arms, which only makes me cross them tighter. For good measure I turn my face away.
With a dramatic sigh, he says, ‘I guess you don’t want me to kiss you after all.’
I push him onto the bed, try to kiss him but he’s laughing so I keep missing his mouth, which makes him laugh even harder.
‘I’ll give you something to laugh about, you rotted turd!’
We end up rolling around on the bed tickling each other, howling and shrieking until we lay side by side, breathless, still snickering. Propping himself on an elbow, his eyes twinkle as he studies me.
‘You’re very cute when you pout.’ He brushes my bottom lip with his thumb then closes the distance between us.
He takes his time, kissing me with meticulous devotion. He tastes of sunshine and joy and a waiting promise. He kisses me so thoroughly the world falls away and I forget where he ends and I begin.
We miss lunch.
We miss dinner.
A knock at my cabin door restarts time and with it, reality.
From the corridor, Gigi says, ‘Big Wang will tattle to my father if I let you starve. Come join us.’
I groan. ‘Can’t we stay a little longer?’ I whisper.
Tony’s lips are swollen, his face flushed. I can tell he’s tempted, but my stomach chooses that moment to protest loudly.
He grins, shakes his head, dimples flashing. ‘Greedy little fox. Let’s go feed you. No one wants a hangry Jing.’
‘Rude,’ I say, but let him take my hand and lead me to the lounge.
Ah Lang is behind the bar, pulling out various bottles of this and that, spinning a few and throwing them in the air while somehow also arranging crystal tumblers in a row. I know he only has two hands but the speed at which he’s juggling all the different bottles and glasses makes it look like he has many more.
Lord Aengus sits at the end of the bar. ‘Lady Jing! This is such a marvel. The trip here was delightful of course, but a little lonely on my own. Manifold gratitude for accompanying me and bringing your most honourable friends! Ah Lang has been telling me the story of how he and Lady Gi met and fell in love. Such lovebirds. Noble Lady Jing’ – Lord Aengus waggles his eyebrows – ‘should I attempt to charm you? I would adore such a love story – star-crossed lovers whose devotion earns Heaven’s blessing.’
