"Not one."
"Hmm." I nodded slowly. "Because I could've sworn I saw tears on your face."
"You imagined it."
"Kenji."
"Tora."
"I saw tears."
"You saw moisture due to the candle light and the fact that I had strong alcohol."
“Ah. That’s what it was.” I burst out laughing.
He grinned wider, holding his composure for about two seconds before he started laughing too—that low, warm laugh of his that I had not heard nearly enough of.
The laugh moved through his chest and into mine because I was lying on it.
The laugh made his stomach flex against me.
The laugh made his arm tighten around my shoulders.
And that laugh told me that our love was getting stronger and stronger.
"Moisture?" I snickered. "Moisture, Kenji?"
"That is what was on my face."
"It was on your face because it came out of your eyes. Which is the definition of crying."
"It was very humid in the ballroom."
"Oh my God."
He shrugged against the pillow. "The body produces saline for many reasons."
“Ah. Well thanks for teaching me.” I laughed so hard I had to bury my face against his chest. He laughed with me, and his hand stroked the back of my head, and the entire bedroom—which had been an intense space several minutes ago—became the warmest place I had ever been in my life.
When the laughter softened, I lifted my head and kissed him.
Soft.
Slow.
Yearning.
A kiss that said,thank you. Thank you for choosing the DNA test, instead of death. Thank you for letting the murderous Dragon go back inside. Thank you for laughing about your tears with me when most men would have closed up and avoided it all.
He kissed me back the same way.
When I pulled away, I rested my forehead against his and stayed there.
His thumb traced the line of my jaw. "Tora."
"Yes?"
He went quiet.
