“Stop grinning like that,” she muttered, but her thumb stroked my skin in soothing motions.
“I’m yours too, pretty birdie,” I announced, loud and clear, for all to hear. Not a soul in this cavern should be exempted from hearing my declaration. You had to state your intentions and conquests in a way that left no questions. A debate should not remain a possibility after it. You said it, you claimed it.
Laughter rolling from the sea of spectators overwhelmed her groan, and I pulled her close, grasping her lower back to lock her against me and nip on those alluring lips.
Whistles became trivial noise as I tangled my tongue with hers, savoring her initial resistance and then losing myself in the sensation of her response. Her giggle ripped free as she tugged the ends of my hair, coaxing a grunt from my throat.
“As familiar as I am with your tendencies to show off, Zion, I believe we had enough for today,” Zola chimed in. “She needs to breathe if you’re both going to lead us.”
Reluctantly, I drew back, and with a wicked smile, Kali leaped off the table. She was so adorable; I had to fight myself not to chase her across the cavern as she backed away, explaining that she wanted to talk to Alora’s friend.
Zola sidled up to me. “Kali’s good for you.”
“She is.” More than good. The embodiment of perfection.
But I dreamed of more.
“We all miss Gedeon.” Zola patted my upper arm. “I don’t know how you push forward with wounds so fresh. I can only admire you two.”
I doubted she would say the same if she knew the truth. Nobody could penetrate the ranks of soldiers guarding Ilasall’sprison. Which worked to our benefit. No contact—no light shining on what we were hiding.
Nearing us with Eli in tow, Ava clapped. “Nice speech,” she noted. “Now, can we get moving? Jayla has a shift tonight at Vice, and there’s a creep who’s a regular there. I want to have a chat with him about respecting boundaries.”
“Need a hand?” Her conversation was likely going to take an interesting turn. And I wasn’t going to let Kali walk to the bar and back home by herself. Who knew what lurked in the corners nowadays? I wasn’t going to risk her safety.
I wanted her to roam the world, not look over her shoulder at every corner. The latter was my job. Same as preening her feathers. With my tongue, of course.
Ava rested her elbow on a serious-like-never-before Eli’s shoulder. “Not this time. Your show with the idiot who’d tried to grope Kali has inspired me on how our little chat should go. Didn’t you have something in mind before we leave? Eli’s been driving me crazy.” She fixed him with a dirty look. “I will kick the ground from under your feet in the training rings tomorrow for this. You’ll eat dust, old man.”
Eli scratched the scar stretching from his lip to his jaw. “We’re wasting time.”
His reply triggered my frown. This wasn’t like him. He should’ve fallen into a pit of bickering with Ava, not changed the subject. Or ignored it at all.
“Eli’s right.” Craning her neck, Zola met my stare. “You all have people to get back to. And I have everything already arranged for you, as requested,” she assured me, waving Rowan over to us. “He’ll lead the way.”
“We’ll wait for you in the car.” Ava yawned without covering her mouth—not one to ever give a shit. “Now please go screw yourselves so we don’t have to see you and Kali ogling each other the entire way home.”
Eli flashed a smile for the first time today. “Don’t pretend you don’t gape at Jayla when she works out with us.”
“I do.” Ava shrugged. “But she’s beautiful.”
“Who’s beautiful?” Kali reappeared from the mass of people swarming the cavern. Untangling her high bun, she fluffed out the tumble around her shoulders.
Right. She had a rule: business over, hair down.
“You all are. Me too,” Zola declared. “Always give yourself compliments. A compliment a day keeps old age at bay.”
Muffling her snickers, Kali whispered into my ear, “I like her. She’s like a harmless version of you.”
So she did enjoy my present.
She was going to love the next one.
11
ZION
“Shall we go?” Rowan scratched his dimpled chin. “It’s not far from here.”
