“Especially then because you’re even more beautiful in your heart and you’ll have gained wisdom over your life that only adds to that. And I will have had the privilege of being with you for every day of it,” he answered, solemn as a vow. Sebastien stood close enough for her breasts to touch him if she took a deep breath. “I want to be there every day.”
“I want that, too,” she breathed, hardly able to believe the ardent perfection of the moment.
Sebastien smiled wide, pure joy lighting his eyes to a green lighter than new leaves. He pulled a box from his pocket, opened it, plucked the ring out, and held it for her to see. She surveyed it in wonder, watching the rainbow shift of colors.
“What is this jewel?”
“An opal, surrounded by diamonds,” he answered. “Like the moon and the stars.”
“It’s so beautiful.”
“And look.” He tilted the ring toward her, showing her an empty bracket in the ring of diamonds bordering the opal.
“One is missing?” she asked, confused.
“It’s awaiting the sapphire from my belt buckle,” he corrected. “The one you’ve carried all these years. We’ll have it cleaned and set in this ring, you’ll have that with you always. Unless you’d rather have it embedded in dirty wax,” he teased.
“No.” Amused and touched and a little weepy, but in a good way, she shook her head. “That’s perfect and thoughtful.”
He picked up her hand, the same one he’d been holding, the one he’d kissed the day he dropped her off at the cottage, and slipped the ring on her finger.
“Oh,” she gasped, catching her sister’s remanence vividly. “You offered this ring to Rose. In a tower room.”
He winced. “I forgot about your psychometry, that you would sense that.”
“It’s good,” she said, seeing and feeling the story of that night. “She was upset. You’re right. She didn’t want the ring or you.”
Shaking his head ruefully, Sebastien met her gaze. “No, she never really did. But she said I should give you the ring, that you wouldn’t mind that it was the same one.”
“No, that makes me happy, like it’s from her, too.” Thorn held out her hand, feeling Rose in it, the gift of Sebastien. There was goodness in it, too, the tracery of artisans and miners in the components. “No one suffered to make this ring,” she told him.
He raked a hand through his golden hair. “I didn’t think ofthateither.”
“It’s all right, Sebastien,” she told him firmly, so he’d believe it. “Most everything I touch has both pain and joy in it. That’s part of life.”
Eyeing her a long moment, he finally nodded. “You’re right. And very wise. Also, this gift of yours might be useful for our future together. Knowing the truth at court is sometimes difficult and always precious.”
Her heart fluttered at that. “I want to be useful.” She admired the ring again. Most important, she felt Sebastien’s love in it, just as she’d traced in all those jewels over the years, the sincere passion, the heartfelt wish for them to join and be together forever after. “This tells me everything I need to know.”
He framed her face in his hands. “Then you know how I feel about you, but let me say it. I love you, Lilythorn.”
She smiled at Moriah’s created name, now the new her, then lost all sense when Sebastien at last lowered his mouth to hers. He brushed her lips with his lightly, a feathering of sensation, his breath warm and tasting of his sunshine. Gradually, he deepened the kiss, nibbling and feeding on her mouth like a hummingbird coming to a flower. She sighed in utter delight, feeling cherishedand cared for as she never had. “Sebastien,” she whispered against his mouth.
“My lovely Lilythorn,” he said, as if in answer. Sliding his fingers into her hair, he pulled her closer, gathering up her hair and dropping light kisses on her face like a soft summer rain. When she closed her eyes in utter bliss, he placed careful kisses there, too, then followed a trail down her cheek to the tender spot under her ear. He inhaled deeply. “You smell like green leaves, sugar, and fresh bread.”
She giggled. “Because of all the gardening and baking, I’m sure.”
“It’s more than that,” he replied on a sensual purr, darting out his tongue to lick that spot. She swayed, suddenly dizzy, and reached up to clutch his strong wrists, lest she crumple from the intense desire. “It’s you. Full of life and sweet as a pastry.”
“Will you gobble me up?” she asked, meaning that to be teasing, but instead nearly panting the question. She’d never felt like this before, had never imagined she could feel like this, simultaneously melting like butter over flame and voraciously energized. She yearned to take him into her, to feel that mouth and those clever fingers everywhere.
Sebastien lifted his head, green eyes dark with intent. “I do want to consume you, Lilythorn. I want to taste every fingertip of your skin from your toes to your scalp. I want to make you mine in every way. I know it’s too soon, but—”
“It’s not too soon,” she interrupted. “I’ve wanted this since I first glimpsed you through your belt buckle. I’ve fantasized about—” She broke off, feeling the fierce blush fire in her cheeks.
“Oh yes?” Sebastien purred, combing his fingers through her hair and rubbing against her so that her peaked and sensitive nipples shot lightning to her groin, a soft groan escaping her lips. “Someday I want to hear every one of those fantasies.”
It didn’t seem possible, but she blushed even harder. “I didn’t meanthosekinds of fantasies,” she whispered, averting her gaze.
