“You’re Will,” I say. “Nothing changes that. And it doesn’t change how I feel about you. Although some more questions might come to me later on. I want to make sure I understand fully, when—or if—you feel up to it.”
“Yeah, of course. I mean—” He grins, his nerves swept away. It’s been so long since I’ve seen that smirk that I almost keel over and offthe desk. “I’m sure it’s hard to believe that I haven’t always been a devilishly confident and handsome guy.”
I snort. “Didn’t Anhora say you used to be ‘shy’ in Mithian?”
“You’re remembering wrong. She said nothing of the sort.”
I inch my mouth toward him again. “Hmm…is that so?”
“Well, if you need convincing…”
This time, when he kisses me, it’s cautious, conscious, as if every tiny movement means the world. His touch sweeps over my lower back, my waist, my hips, my thighs, then up my jaw, into my hair, deliberately, unhurriedly, like he’s intricately memorizing the way I feel, noting each quiver down my spine. I do similarly and I relish every second of it. I’ve been so obsessed with those hands, but this is better than any wishful daydreams.
After some time, Will chuckles against my mouth.
“This is not how I imagined this day would go,” he says, red to the very tips of his ears. It’s adorable.
“I hope it’s turned out for the better,” I say, and curl a lock of his hair around my finger, letting it unravel lazily.
“Oh, certainly,” he says. His laugh turns into a soft sigh. “You’ve been on my mind since you stubbornly—and stupidly—marched into the wards and knocked yourself out. It was those flowers in your hair and your cute, frowny expression.”
“Frowny?”
“Yeah, you have a tough little scowl. Your eyes get all narrow and you pull your chin up. Ah, just like that.” He beams at my reaction. “It’s so at odds with the way you dress; it threw me off guard from the start. I didn’t realize someone so short could cause me so much trouble. You’re a persistent little wildflower.”
“Stop teasing me!”
“I’m not! These are compliments!”
“Stubborn and stupid?”
“I’m trying to tell you the truth!”
“Well, I don’t think you’re doing a very good job of it.”
“Perhaps I need a teacher. Know anyone?”
“You’re—”The worst.
A sentence I can’t say.
I glower and his laugh is a cherished prize.
“Cute,” Will says, and kisses the tip of my nose.
“It’s your own fault for being so gentle with me when you healed my ankle.”
He raises an eyebrow. I should have known he’d revel in hearing that, but it’s still a surprise when he suddenly wrenches me close and hovers his hot breath over my neck. I cling to his shirt, unable to contain my squeal.
“Oh? I’ll be rougher next time, shall I?”
Gods—
I’m dazed. Flushed. A complete mess.
“How would you like me to atone?” he whispers against my skin. He presses his lips to my throat in an achingly slow kiss that has me struggling to find air. “I’m completely at your mercy, Princess.”
I don’t speak.
