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“About these cakes? Absolutely.” I pop one into my mouth. This is Jo, so I don’t have to bother with ladylike nibbles. “I cannot have this conversation again. Isn’t there anything else we can talk about?”

She sighs and takes a cake. “Fine. On a selfish note, will this affect our week at Etherlee?”

“I hadn’t thought of that. I don’t know.” The mention of it shocks me as much as nearly drowning did last time I was there.

***

Too rattled by the rush of water, or the kiss, or both, I couldn’t manage to push the water away from us again, so we swam and trudged out, laughing all the way. My dress hung heavily on me. If it weren’t so ridiculously funny, I’d have been mortified.

“It would appear I have some talents too.” Tomas pushed his hand through his sodden locks.

“Such as?”

One eyebrow cocked up. “Distracting you.”

“For now, perhaps. I haven’t come into my full power yet. There will come a time when it will take much more than one kiss to break my magic.”

A mischievous grin sent me reeling. “Is that a challenge?”

Had he always been so smug? I pushed air up under his feet to elevate him off the ground, and he wobbled as he looked at me wide-eyed. “Are you mad?” It was only a step up, but it was enough to crack his confidence. Somehow, that was even more attractive.

“Do you think you can do it again?” I raised myself to level with him. “It was only the surprise of something new, Tomas. Don’t flatter yourself into thinking you could have more power over me than I do over air.”

“I wouldn’t dare underestimate your power.” It was sincere—not sarcastic or challenging at all.

Even more than being underestimated, having him believe in me was inspiration to prove myself. With the sand dunes concealing us from the house, I draped my arms around his neck and kissed him again—to prove myself, and because he believed in me, and because I wanted to feel his lips on mine again. He squeezed my hips, and when our mouths opened and his tongue brushed mine… we fell.

“Damn!” Hands still behind his neck, I dropped my chin to avoid seeing his victorious expression. “I need more practice.”

“With which part?” He lifted my face back to his and kissed me.

This time I didn’t have anything else to think about. No shields to keep up. No power to maintain. I let myself enjoy it. I melted into his arms and memorized the taste of him. My body pressed against his, and controlling the air around me was out of the question—I could hardly breathe.

Then I shuddered with cold, and he leaned back, rubbing his hands up and down my arms. “You need to get out of that wet dress.”

“And you’ll want to change out of your wet clothes.” My eyes skimmed down his torso, taking in the way his tunic clung to his body and had become transparent before I ripped my gaze away to go back inside.

My heart raced as we walked back into the house in silence. I tapped my teeth together, trying to determine what exactly we were doing. When we got to my door, I hesitated with my hand on the knob.

“Do… you need help with that?” Tomas gestured to my damp dress.

“No, I can manage.”

“Right. Of course. Goodnight then.” Disappointment flashed through his eyes, and I realized I’d answered too quickly. It was a reflexive response—refusing assistance. To have him help me out of my dress… I shouldn’t, though.

“Goodnight.” I turned and entered my chambers as he walked away. Inside, I leaned against the door a moment, pondering what just happened. What would we be like around each other now? Would it happen again? I wanted it to. I reached back to unlace my dress, but suede and water are not a good combination, and pulling the laces out proved difficult. I’d have gone to bed dressed if I wasn’t freezing, but as it was, I went to wake Jo for assistance.

However, when I stepped into the hall, I jumped back in surprise at the sight of a figure just next to my door. Tomas started as well. “Gods, I’m sorry. I hadn’t gone yet. I’m going now. I’m—wait, what are you doing?”

“I was going to wake Jo. As it turns out, I do need help with this.” Now it was my turn to gesture to the sopping dress. It occurred to me I didn’t have a plan for how to explain this to his sister.

“You needn’t wake her.”

I took a deep breath. “Well, since you’re here. Come in.” I turned and walked back in with quick steps. The sound of the door closing behind me sent a shiver down my spine that had nothing to do with the cold. I pulled my damp braid over one shoulder so it was out of the way, and he began pulling the laces through the back of my dress. His fingertips brushed the skin of my back, and I focused all my energy on not squirming.

This was a bad idea. A terrible idea, really.

But when he’d finished, I turned around—still too close to him. “Thank you.”