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I couldn’t hold back anymore, not with that mischievous look on his face. I kissed away his coy smile—his lips were so much better suited for this. Kissing him was consuming. It was all there was in the world: no betrothal, no responsibility or rules. Just him and me.

His lips grazed my jaw, and my core melted. When he reached my ear, he whispered, “Weren’t you supposed to be practicing something?” His breath on that sensitive area made my toes curl.

A sound, half-laugh, half-sigh, escaped me, and I pressed the air up underneath us. This time, Tomas remained steady. “Better?”

His mouth crushed mine again, and to the air, I thought, Please, stay this way. I have other things I’d rather think about. Though all I could think of was Tomas, it did.

Kissing him was somehow more than I could have ever hoped for, yet not enough at the same time. A feast but only a taste. And I was starved.

I pulled back, and his lips traced a path of kisses down my neck. I swallowed past the lump in my throat to whisper shaky words to him. “It would appear this is too easy a test.”

He looked in my eyes, searching for answers, approval. I answered with a small smile before pulling his tunic off.

“Bell…”

“It’s all just a political contract.” I skimmed my fingers down his chest.

“I know…”

“They didn’t ask if I was what they’d consider tainted.”

He huffed a short laugh. “Wise move. I can’t imagine Elea would have responded well to that.”

“She wouldn’t have. She told me it is neither their business nor hers.”

Mother did add that it might be considered poor taste to have such relations now that I was betrothed, though, and I had to agree. Since a betrothal is romantic for most people, it wouldn’t be understood that I’d only be living normally until a contract—that’s all this marriage would be—changed my circumstances. Ceraun’s opinion would be harshest. Probably not enough to break our betrothal, but pride and self-righteousness have made people do stupider things. It would be complicated here—not a situation I wished to put any of us in. Tomas could assume that easily enough, though, and I wasn’t of any mind to give us reasons not to be together in that moment.

“It’s not as if I’m married already.” My words were a faint breeze.

“And once you are married?”

I dropped my forehead onto his bare shoulder. Married. The thought should have thrilled me, but it felt as if I was careening toward a cliff. “Once I’m married, we go back to what we were a week ago. Friends.”

That’s how I turned lust into training. Sex into practice. The game was to see if I could keep us shielded or afloat through the throes of passion. It turned out the challenge wasn’t my concentration; rather, any shield I created was so thoroughly a part of me that they’d tremble, melt, shatter when I did. I had to learn to separate my power from myself. Keep it as a dear friend but with boundaries.

It took a lot of practice.

***

It took the rest of summer, autumn, winter, and now into spring. It’s a wicked excuse but actually helpful, as he seems to be my only weakness. We both know keeping a little sound barrier around us while dancing and flirting is no test of my powers. And so, the tease begins.

“This isn’t much of a challenge, but every little bit helps.” I send a wisp of warm air to brush his ear and down his neck.

“That’s quite unfair. You can be in plain sight and do whatever you like to me, while I’m helpless against you.”

“I can’t do anything I’d like.” This vague mention of it in the middle of a room full of people is a thrill all its own.

“Is torturing me not your favorite pastime then?”

My lips curl up at the corners. “It’s a close second.”

“A princess should always have her first choice of everything.”

Ha. If only. We continue dancing in silence, the warm scent of him enveloping me in the discreet enclosed space. It tugs at my core and distracts me enough that I miss a step. “Perhaps you could help me in learning to follow.”

His blue eyes glimmer. We understand each other so well when it comes to this. Fortunately, he doesn’t see past my lust to the feelings I am not supposed to have. “I have been meaning to check the wine cellar. Not that I don’t trust the staff to keep track, but I’d be remiss if we ever let the palace run dry.”

And I shall follow him there. “Your service to the crown is admirable.”