Page 70 of Alien Burn

She hadn't thought everyone was watching until he said it. Now she could feel the room behind her.

“I'd rather you spoke to me than pretended you hadn't seen me.”

“So would I.”

“They might misunderstand.”

“What would they misunderstand?”

She looked at him. He wasn't smiling now, though nothing in his face pressed her to answer quickly.

“That we're in Courtship,” she said at last.

“We are.”

“I know. I'm still getting used to other people knowing.”

“Then they'll have it exactly right.”

Warmth rose into her cheeks. She looked toward the tree again, but he leaned a little closer, enough to catch her eye.

“For the record, I like that you're looking at me.”

“I wasn't⁠—”

He waited.

She let out a breath. “I was.”

“I noticed.”

“You were looking too.”

“I'm still looking.”

She laughed, helplessly this time, and his answering smile made her stomach dip.

He set his cup on the deep sill. His hand remained beside it, relaxed, the reddish skin a shade warmer than the dark stone. Sereya looked at the hand, then at his face.

“What is it?” he asked softly.

She could have said nothing. She had said nothing so often that her mouth was already shaping it.

“It's easier when we're alone.”

“I know.”

She put her cup beside his and touched two fingers to the back of his hand.

His fingers turned beneath hers. He gave her time to withdraw, then folded his hand around hers.

The room did not fall silent. No one cried out. The older male by the door went on talking to someone else, and a server passed with a tray of small cakes.

Dhomhes's thumb rested against the side of her finger.

“Is this easier?” he asked.

“No.”