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Marlak is still blocking my exit, making me feel cornered—and angry, so angry.
I step back and glare at him. “You said you trusted me! You said we weren’t going to be heard!”
“I didn’t say by whom.”
“You’re an asshole, did you know that?”
“I’ve been called much worse, wife. And can you blame me for wanting to be cautious?”
“Yes! Wasn’t it enough to steal my secrets once? You had to do it again?”
“Astra, I don’t know who you are. Really, truly, who you are.”
“Well, ask!”
I feel the stone wall behind me, and realize I’m stepping between pillows, on the back of the small alcove. I don’t know why I’m retreating so much. I guess I just want some distance, and yet he’s getting closer and closer.
Marlak puts a hand on the wall. “Do you really think I’m in love with Crisine? After everything you saw?”
“That’s your problem? Not you overhearing me?”
“I had to overhear you. You think I don’t care about you?”
“You said it. Many times.” He’s so close that I wish I could disappear on the stones and plants behind me.
“I never said I didn’t care about you, Astra. Quite the opposite. Are you really upset I don’t kiss you?”
“No. I?—”
He then kisses my eye. My eye. I take a while to open it and see him staring at me, his eyes wild. “You want me to kiss you? I can kiss you.”
He kisses my cheek. It’s a quick, brief kiss. I’d say an angry kiss, but there’s something sweet about it.
My heart is jumping while I’m trembling. He stares at me, and I don’t know what he wants me to say. Do I want him to stop? Do I want him to continue?
“Is that what you want?” he asks, then kisses my chin. “See? I can kiss you.”
I don’t know why he’s angry, why he’s threatening me with kisses. This is all so silly and ridiculous—and wonderful. And then it all turns into laughter. Unbridled, joyous, silly laughter.
He’s not amused. “You think it’s funny.”
“No.” I can’t stop laughing, though.
“Let’s see if this is funny.”
I feel his lips on mine. I feel the world dissolving around me. There’s only us and this moment, us and our mingled breaths and caressing tongues. I reach out and touch his hair, his hair that’s softer and more wonderful than anything I ever imagined, and pull him closer to me. I don’t want this to ever end, this piece of eternity between us. My heart and lips are one.
His ringed fingers touch my face and shoulder. A delightful touch. I’m breathless, ecstatic—and aware of what I feel for him. The startling thought makes my breath hitch.
Our lips part, and yet our faces remain close. At least I can see his eyes now, see a thousand unsaid things in there.
“Astra,” he rasps between short breaths.
I pull him towards me again. I want to kiss him fiercely, madly. I want to kiss him and show him a fraction of what I feel, and then let that feeling swallow me whole. The wall behind me spins and the world tilts, and I find my back against the pillows on the floor. His body is over mine, his hands trailing over my exposed skin. A thrill runs through me as his rings graze my thighs, as another hand cups my breast, all the while his lovely curls curtain my face and brush my neck. I realize how desperately I’ve been wanting him.
He parts our kiss, then brings both hands to my shoulders. His eyes are on mine, fiery, intense. “Do you truly want this?”
“What does it look like?”
