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"Oh, that's awful!" I gasped.
He just laughed. "It's an acquired taste. You've also been drinking sherry, which is pretty sweet. Don't worry, the second time is better, just make sure to take a big drink."
I looked at the brownish liquid suspiciously. "You're trying to kill me, aren't you?"
"I will have you know thatyouordered this. I suggested brandy." But the devious look on his face made it clear he was enjoying my discomfort.
He was also daring me to try it again, and I couldn't quite resist. The second taste was better? Maybe because I had an idea what to expect? Like when I thought the juice was apple but instead the glass was filled with weak tea. It didn't taste good because it wasn't what I was ready for, even though I liked tea.
So I took a larger sip, one that would be a normal size. The taste didn't really change, though. If anything, it was worse! For a moment, I held it in my mouth, trying to force myself to swallow, but it wasn't working. Instead, I grunted out an "unh uh" sound and pressed the back of my hand to my mouth.
Talin had his lips pressed together, struggling not to laugh. When I shook my head, it was more than he could take. "Basin's over there," he said even as his lips split into a grin. "And now I know that you're a spitter."
Oh, that was too much. I darted out of my chair, wanting to laugh and feeling like I was about to gag all at the same time. Three steps carried me to the basin, but he was right on my heels, there to pull my ponytail back as I leaned over to spit the horrid stuff out. As soon as it was gone, I began to giggle.
"Don't you know it's hard to laugh with something in my mouth?" I teased.
He reached up to wipe a bit from my chin. "Want some water to rinse that out?"
"Please! And you're going to have to finish that, because there's no way I'm trying a third time."
"But you'll do anything twice, huh?" He reached over my shoulder for a small pottery pitcher and a matching cup. After pouring, he passed the cup to me. "You know how I got used to the taste?"
"How?" I asked.
"I tried it on someone else's tongue first."
He didn't step back. He didn't look away. I lifted the cup to my lips and drank, rinsing the fetid ale from my mouth, and then placed it on the counter by the basin. For a split second, I debated turning away. It would be so easy to walk to the table, pretend like I had no idea what he was talking about, or change the subject.
But I didn't want to. Zeal had given me one night to experiment, and then he'd put this man before me. This gorgeous man who made me feel foolish, naive, and brazen all at once. The one who was clearly willing to let me lead this however I wanted. The one who was standing before me, waiting for the consent I'd told Zeal I needed.
So I grabbed the lapel of his suit coat and stepped into him, closing the little bit of distance he'd left me. "I think that means you should kiss me, Talin."
His hand found my hip, and he tugged me against his hips. "And how will I know when to stop?"
"I'm pretty sure you won't need to."
"That's what I was hoping you'd say." And his mouth bent to mine.
Chapter 33
Nariana
When his tongue slipped through my lips, I decided he was right. The bite of the ale was sensual on him, not overwhelming. A moment later, I stopped caring. As his mouth tasted mine, his hand slid up my ribs to my breast, pausing just under the swell. I leaned into the pressure, making it clear I wanted him to keep going. Throwing my arm around his neck, I pressed my fingers into his ink-black hair and begged him to kiss me like he'd never kissed a woman before.
He obeyed. The hand on my hip kept me stable as he leaned in, bending me backwards. The one on my ribs moved higher, until his thumb could sweep across my nipple. Leather rasped against linen, and I moaned into his mouth. He drank it in, sucking at my tongue in a way I'd never experienced before. Hard things sliding into soft ones. Inspired, I reached down, trailing my palm over his chest, across his abs, and lower, until I found the hardness I was seeking.
He pressed into my hand, but I couldn't grip him through his pants. I could only stroke, yet it was enough to make him growl with need. Pulling his mouth from mine, he turned his attention to my neck, nipping hard before kissing away the pain. The next time it was higher, just beneath my ear.
"Will you hate me if I ask to turn out the lights?" His words came out in a whisper.
I sucked in a breath and looked at him. I hadn't even thought about that! If we kept going, the first thing I'd lose were my gloves. My shirt would come soon after, and I had no way to explain the lace that ran down my arms.
"No, that's... it's ok."
"It's just... something happened when I was a child, and I don't want you to be turned away because of it," he said. "Or I can stop."
I took a step back, releasing him so I could use my toe to pry at the heel of my opposite boot. "Get the lights, Talin." Then I began working at my gloves.
