Page 162 of A Legacy of the Light

I lean my head on his shoulder and confess the truth I’ve been holding in my heart for quite some time. “Me, too.”

Tavish rests his head on mine. “Maybe you can come back one day.” A statement, not a question.

“Yeah, maybe.” I hear it for the lie that it is. A lie that neither of us acknowledge.

My stomach eventually breaks the silence between us and Tavish chuckles warmly. “Want some dinner?”

“Yes, please,” I reply.

“What would you like?”

“Is pizza a thing in Elfayne?” I ask, lifting up to look at him.

His eyes sparkle as he nods in confirmation.

Being a prince definitely has its perks, one of them being that you can get fresh pizza sent to your room inside half an hour.

Tavish and I sit cross-legged on the sofa as we devour it, telling each other about our favorite food.

“Wait, you put mashed potato on toast?” he asks in horror.

“Don’t hate,” I shrug. “It’s good. It doesn’t sound like it, but it is.”

“Nope. I’m calling bullshit,” he laughs softly.

“I’m going to make you try it.”

“You’ll have to force me.”

“I’m sure that can be arranged,” I quip. “What’s your comfort meal?” I ask as he finishes the last slice.

“Cullen skink,” he shrugs.

“Cullen what?”

“Cullen skink. It’s soup made with fresh haddock, potatoes, and onions. With fresh bread? Delicious. Colin makes a mean cullen skink.”

“I’ll have to ask him to make it for dinner one night,” I reply and Tavish nods feverishly in agreement.

◆◆◆

The evening wears on, and the hour gets later and later. Tavish looks at the clock next the fireplace and stands from the sofa. “I should let you get some sleep,” he hesitates as he looks down at me.

I stand, too, and take his hand in mine. “Stay?”

“Are you sure?” he says, pulling me closer to him.

“Yes, please stay with me tonight,” I reply.

Tavish lowers his head and my heart skips when his lips brush against mine. He kisses me gently, reverently. “Okay.”

We clear the dishes from dinner and make sure the fire is out before heading back into the bedroom. The crumpled sheets and the smell of sex makes us pause in the middle of the room. We look to each other and laugh.

“Get ready for bed. I’ll deal with this.”

“Isn’t changing sheets beneath you, Your Highness?”

He slaps my ass and pushes me in the direction of the bathroom. “You and that mouth of yours.”