Maeve looked away from him and back up at the sky. “Yes,” was all she said.
They were different from Earth’s, but she had learned them all the same.
A warm hand gently found the small of her back. She didn’t look at Reeve as he gripped the fabric of her top ever so slightly and tugged her down to the ground beside him.
“What is that one?” he asked, pointing at a constellation, his voice casual.
“That one,” said Maeve, scanning the sky to get her bearings, “That one is. . .wait.”
“I thought you said you knew them,” said Reeve with a chuckle.
“Shut up,” said Maeve with a smile. “I do.”
“Well, it seems like you would know Valahidi instantly. That’s a major constellation.
Maeve turned her head towards him and raised a brow. “That is absolutely not amajorconstellation.”
“It looks pretty big to me,” he said, those firelight eyes swirled with mischief, and the corner of his mouth cocked up.
“If you knew it, why’d you ask?” said Maeve coolly, and she turned her gaze back towards the sky.
After a moment, Reeve asked, “Why haven’t you pressed me about my Inheritor? Do you not wonder what will come of that?”
Maeve digested his words. Her eyes remained on the stars. “Must it happen?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Reeve’s voice was cool and low. “It must.”
Maeve chewed the inside of her lip. “When?”
“I don’t know,” said Reeve. “I didn’t know when I would Inherit the power of Aterna until it was happening. Maybe, when I give up my life force, it will be the same.”
She swallowed, feeling hollowed by the thought. “I don’t want the Inheritance to happen,” she said softly, too afraid to tell him what she really didn’t want.
She blinked as a large, barely frozen snowflake slammed into her cheek. Followed quickly by more as the sky began to empty out above them. She waited for Reeve to shield them, but more snowflakes continued to assault her. Maeve wiped the melted water from her face and made to sit up.
“Absolutely not,” said Reeve as he pushed up, rolling one leg over her and placing his left arm beside her face. He positioned his chest above her, blocking her escape.
Maeve’s throat tightened as his body hovered inches from her own, suspended above her.
“It’s just a little snow,” purred Reeve. “There is no need to run.”
Maeve’s gaze moved down to his lips, and her own instincts betrayed her as she licked her bottom lip.
He hovered above her, watching every breath she took. He moved slowly, lowering his body into hers with careful control.
With one arm still at her side, his other hand glided up her arm, slowly dancing along her skin. His touch was sweetly and numbingly warm as always, washing a welcome calm over her. His touch made its way to her face, where the backs of his knuckles brushed along her cheek.
Reeve’s face was relaxed, a portrait of ruggedly handsome ease. His eyes scanned her face as his thumb moved across her cheek.
“You’re blocking the view,” she said coolly, a small smirk tugging at her lips.
Reeve didn’t smile. “My view is perfect.”
Maeve’s smile dropped, and her playfulness faded at the conviction in his voice.
Her eyes fluttered to a close as his warm lips touched down on her cheek. He moved tauntingly slow. His lips brushed down her jaw, dipping onto her neck. Maeve’s hands gripped his arm as her breathing hitched loudly.
Reeve paused, his breath hot against her neck.
