“What”—Kas cut her off with a nip on the lower lip—“does”—and a light kiss on the nose—“that”—another kiss to the lips, this one long and slow with a dash of tongue—“mean?”
He ignored her, winding his fingers through her soft hair and going in for another kiss, knowing he was driving her batty and loving every moment of it. She was quicker than he, pressing a palm to his mouth, and blocking his lips from reaching her.
“What does that mean?Rasdekina?”she asked again.
“True love.” His words were muffled by her fingers.
“Soekinameans love?”
“Yes. Love.”
She dropped her hand. “Oh. I didn’t know. It wasn’t in the book.”
He chuckled.
“That book, have you seen it? I can’t find it and—”
“I found it. In the glade. It’s in my room.”
“Good.” He pulled her in for another hug. “Andtilal,that means lovely?” she asked, her eyes sparkling as she pulled away far enough to peer at him.
“It does. But,mi tilal, is more like... my beloved.”
“You infuriating man.” Nesrina sighed happily, and theykissed again before she burrowed into the crook of his neck. “Kas?” she whispered.
“Yes?”
“Does that mean you love me?”
“I just told you I do. Twice.”
“I was distracted.”
He braced her small face between his hands and stared into her eyes. “Yes, Nesrina. I love you so much, so deeply. More than words can ever convey.”
“For a writer, you sure struggle with them,” she teased before bringing her hands to his cheeks, too, holding him steady as he held onto her. “Kas, I love you too. So much.” She kissed him, and their teeth clinked as their mouths met, for they were both grinning foolishly.
Minutes passed before they pulled apart and finished their bath in earnest. He washed her, refusing to let her get her hands wet, then she watched, studiously, as he cleaned himself.
Beside the tub, Nesrina reached for a towel, but Kas stopped her, curling a hot wave of air around her and drying away the droplets. “Every time,” he whispered.
“What?” her voice was breathy as he coasted a breeze over her breasts and down her stomach.
“I want to do this every time you bathe. No more towels, Nes.”
She laughed as he cupped her arse with his magic and squeezed. “Every time,” she repeated.
Not long later they fell into Kas’s bed, and he broke contact—with one hand—to pull the simple black box from behind his back. “Nesrina.”
“Yes?” Her fingertips paused their exploration of his chest hair.
“Will you marry me?”
“I already said yes, silly.”
He tipped his chin toward the open box, and she looked, letting out a gasp when she saw the ring for the first time.
“Oh, it’s beautiful.”
