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Thirteen
Havana
My lips tingled, and it took all my self-control not to rub them, remembering how Leon’s mouth felt against mine. The suit had been only a thin piece of fabric separating us and I had never been more thankful for that ridiculous piece of clothing because it allowed me to get very close to him.
I never wanted to forget what happened in the grotto, and I was sour he had ended it so quickly. Continuing to kiss him would get me in all sorts of trouble, but I couldn’t deny how natural and perfect he felt. My experiences with males weren’t extensive, and I had kissed before, but never to the point my entire body vibrated with eagerness. How was I supposed to ignore those intense feelings?
We walked in silence back to the cabana and I enjoyed it, listening to the songs of the birds, and feeling the breeze against my skin. Leon kept his arm looped around mind, whistling a tune. When we arrived at the cabana, our monkey had fallen asleep in a little hammock in the corner.
“Is he supposed to be sleeping?” I said with a laugh.
Leon shook his head. “They’re cheap bodyguards. I mean, who else can you pay in bananas?” He opened the door and let me in first. “Get changed. I’ll be right here.”
I grabbed my dress from the cushioned seats and ran back into the bathroom. I stripped off the wetsuit, which snagged at some point and I thought the fabric was going to be stuck at my hips forever, but it finally came off and I slipped back into the dress, tying it and looking at myself in the mirror.
I smiled at how the pixies had braided my hair. There were vines and flowers weaved in and out of the braided strands, and little pieces of tangled frizz hung around my cheeks. The rosy hue on my face wasn’t just from the sun, that was from kissing Leo, something I hoped to do again, and very soon.
By the time I had finished dressing, Leon had the horse outside waiting for us. The day wasn’t over, and I didn’t want this to end.
“I have to head back and take care of a few things,” he said, almost kind of sadly.
“Sure.”
I didn’t want him to know that answer upset me. So when he put a hand on my waist to help lift me on to the horse, I smiled. He climbed up behind me, wrapped an arm around my waist and grabbed the reins with the other. This time when we rode, he held me much closer as if that kiss had changed everything between us. At one point during the ride, he leaned by my ear, and kissed me gently on my cheek. The gesture so sweet and affectionate it almost hurt. I tried not to think about what would happen in a week or when I told him the truth. I just basked in this moment and let all my worries slip away between his fingers.
When we arrived at Lily’s, he escorted me to his room.
“Do you plan on keeping me here the whole time?” I said, with a hand on my hip and a grin on my face.
“Well.” He scratched the back of his neck as if he wasn’t sure how to answer. “I was getting a room prepared for you, one that was safe and close. If you’d rather go there now, I’ll get Lily, but you’re more than welcome to stay here.”
I didn’t miss the hesitation in his question or how his skin seemed to flush, making the dark plum tone in his cheeks darken. “Sure. I’ll wait here until you come back.”
“I shouldn’t be gone too long.” He glanced away and grabbed the door. “In the meantime, the place is yours.”
And with that, he closed the door.
Figuring I could rest a bit while he ran off, I curled up in his bed, breathing in his familiar scent, and slept.
When I woke sometime later, pink and orange hues filled the sky. I tossed the blanket and looked out the window. “How long was I sleeping?”
There were no signs that Leon had returned, but I wondered if maybe he had since I was asleep. I decided to go downstairs and explore the area. I wouldn’t go far, but I didn’t want to sit in his room anymore. Fixing my face and hair in the washroom first, I straightened my dress and left.
Music and loud talking came from the main room of Lily’s where patrons drank, played cards, smoked cigars, and flirted with the pretty fae waltzing around.
No sign of Leon or his men.
Drums beat from outside and the glow of fire drew my curiosity. I wouldn’t go far from Lily’s, but I’m sure it was safe enough to wander outside for a bit. Moving toward the front entrance, someone blocked my view.
“Going somewhere?” Lily glared at me with her too beautiful green eyes.
“Just needed some air.”
An orange-haired fae skipped to Lily’s side. “I’m Millie.”
“Hello,” I said, feeling intimidated by both their beauty. It was unkind of the All Father to bless the fae with such flawless features. Lily’s skin matched the dark tones of her hair, making her utterly unique and stunning. Both females had long silky hair, braided in various places, making them prettier than any of the girls I saw at court.
“Follow me,” Lily said and headed back up the stairs.
