“Right, of course.” Theo repacked the tent supplies and sat down near the fire. “I don't know why I didn't think of that.”
Lyra laughed quietly from the other side of the flames, her skin and eyes flickering in the amber glow. Theo's mouth almost dropped open. She looked like a jewel, entirely made of sapphire and starlight, with a wicked wit as sharp as any gemstone.
“Can I do anything?” Theo asked, desperate to be helpful, when he realized Lyra was assembling a makeshift spit.
“Yes, actually.” Lyra handed him the tangle of sticks. “You can prop this up over the flames. Make sure the sticks don't catch fire. I'll be right back.”
“Where are you—” Theo stopped asking as Lyra headed right back to the river, diving into the shallows. Theo would break his neck if he tried it in such shallow water, but somehow, Lyra disappeared under the surface as though she'd never been thereat all. It had scarcely been five minutes before she reappeared, clothed again, walking back towards Theo.
For the second time, Theo thought she was Aphrodite herself, manifesting out of the sea foam. Aphrodite, however, didn’t come bearing a fish in each hand for dinner.
Lyra didn't even look remotely proud of herself. In fact, she appeared perfectly casual, as if pulling two huge trout out of the water was as easy as breathing.
“Bravo.” Theo couldn't help but whistle at the sight. “Any other tricks I should know about?” He accepted the bounty from Lyra and grabbed a utility knife from his pack before starting to prepare the fish for dinner.
Lyra sat down—closer to him, Theo realized with no small mental celebration—and winked.
“I have plenty of other tricks, princeling. I don't think you're ever going to be in a position to earn them, though.”
Theo's blood rushed south, and he nearly nicked his thumb as he descaled dinner. “E-erm, well, that would be your prerogative.”
“Indeed.” Lyra seemed pleased with herself, studying Theo for another moment longer. “What was it like for you? Growing up, I mean.”
The question surprised Theo, who hadn't expected Lyra to care about anything regarding him or his story other than how it would get her a boon with Calum.
“It wasn't... easy, at times.” Theo finished preparing the fish and put them over the fire to cook. Lyra started backpedaling, a surprising sentiment from the woman who appeared as sharp as steel.
“You don't have to talk about it.” The words came rushing out of Lyra's mouth. “I don't know why I asked.”
Theo chuckled, offering her an auditory olive branch. “It's in anyone's nature to be curious. Especially when you find out the heir had a spare no one knew about.”
Lyra's face scrunched up in displeasure, shaking her head.
“Don't do that.”
“Do what?” Theo cocked his head, genuinely unsure what she was referring to, as he rotated the fish over the embers.
“Refer to yourself asthe spare,” Lyra snapped. The words came out harsher than she intended, but she meant them; the strength of her stance surprised her and Theo. His shock quickly melted into a pleasant warmth that spread throughout his whole body.
The atmosphere around Theo and Lyra shifted, suddenly too hot and too cold, with a pressure that seemed impossible to quell unless they moved closer to one another. And so they did, neither one acknowledging what they were doing.
“It's true, though.” Theo shrugged, his body leaning closer to Lyra's. “I don't mind.”
“I do,” she hissed quietly, her eyes almost going half-lidded as she started to meet Theo halfway.
“I don't know why you would—” Theo started, but Lyra cut him off.
“Don't argue with me,” she chastised him with one breath and was kissing him with the very next.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The rest of Theo's world melted away. There was nothing that could touch him. He ceased to exist where he sat on the banks of the river. Lyra took control of the embrace almost instantaneously, and he let her, reveling in whatever she wanted to do to him. If this was still remnants of her siren song, then so be it, because he had never been so enthralled.
Lyra’s arms wrapped around Theo's neck, and he gently maneuvered them until she was straddling his lap, both hands firmly gripping her waist.
Lyra bit and sucked and teased, pulling back and toying with him until he’d make a pathetic, keening sound for her to continue, and she would acquiesce. Theo could feel her hard nipples through the damp fabric of her sham of a dress, rubbing against his chest with a torturous drag that threatened to send them both over the edge.
“L-Lyra, please.” Theo pulled away, gasping. “Can I touch you?”
