Page 219 of Reign

“Luciano.”

I smile. “Keep going.”

Her arms fold over her stomach. “You did all that stuff. You stayed with me and got the bath ready and checked everything, but you never kissed me.”

“On your mouth.”

Her face turns pinker. “Yes.”

I cross the room until I’m standing in front of her.

“And you wanted me to.”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

She frowns. “I am!”

“I meant yesterday.”

“I didn’t know I was supposed to ask you to kiss me.”

“You’re not supposed to ask for every kiss.” I touch two fingers beneath her chin. “You’re supposed to tell me when something I do leaves you upset, confused, uncomfortable, or wondering what I’m thinking.”

Her eyes stay on mine.

“Especially after a scene,” I say. “I need to know what’s happening in your head, Elena. I can read your body. I can pay attention. I can ask questions. But I can’t know something you decide not to tell me.”

“Well, now you know.”

“And I’m glad I do.”

Some of the defensiveness leaves her face.

“But next time, don’t spend half a day punishing me for something I don’t know I did.”

Her mouth falls open. “I was not punishing you.”

“You treated me like furniture at breakfast.”

“I sat on your lap like you wanted.”

“After persuasion.”

She tries not to smile.

Fails.

“There you are.”

Her smile disappears almost immediately, uncertainty creeping back in.

“So... you didn’t kiss me because—”

I kiss her.

Her sentence disappears against my mouth.